ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hang up

idiom
Meaning

To terminate a telephone call, originally by hanging the receiver on its hook or cradle thereby automatically disconnecting the line.


Examples
SIMPLE

I have to hang up now because my bus is here.

CONTEXTUAL

She was so angry at his rude comments that she decided to hang up the phone immediately.

COMPLEX

After a long and difficult conversation, he felt a strange sense of relief as he finally chose to hang up and disconnect from the past.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    get the hang of

    To begin to understand or manage at a basic level; to learn to handle with some skill.

  2. 02

    give a hang

    give a hoot; give a damn (to care about; to place value on something)

  3. 03

    go hang

    To be cursed; to be unworthy of notice or bother.

  4. 04

    hang a leg

    To hesitate; to hang back.

  5. 05

    hang a Louie

    Make a left turn while driving a vehicle (←).

  6. 06

    hang a Ralph

    To make a right turn while driving a vehicle (→).

  7. 07

    hang a uey

    To make a U-turn while driving a vehicle (∩).

  8. 08

    hang an arse

    to hang back, to be afraid to advance.

Last updated April 17, 2026