# hang up one's hat

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hang-up-ones-hat
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To end one's career.

## Examples

- After forty years of hard work, he finally hung up his hat.
- The famous journalist decided to hang up his hat after decades of reporting on major world events.
- Having spent a lifetime shaping the industry, the visionary architect finally chose to hang up his hat and enjoy a quiet retirement.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.