# dangle

/ˈdæŋɡəɫ/ (US) · /dˈæŋɡəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dangle
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to hang loosely

verb · CEFR B2

to hang or swing loosely from something.

For teachers: to hang loosely with the ability to swing; functions both transitively and intransitively.

- A pair of fuzzy dice dangled from the car's rearview mirror.
- The child sat on the edge of the pier, letting his legs dangle over the dark, swirling water below.

Usage: Can be used with an object (to dangle something) or without (something dangles).

### 3. patient positioning

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to sit on the edge of a bed with your legs hanging down, usually to help your blood flow.

For teachers: to assist a patient in sitting on the edge of the bed with their feet hanging down to adjust to upright posture.

- The nurse helped the patient dangle for a few minutes before trying to stand.
- Post-operative protocols often require the patient to dangle at the bedside to prevent orthostatic hypotension before ambulation.

Usage: Commonly used as an intransitive verb in clinical settings.

### 4. sports move

verb · CEFR C2 · Slang

to move a puck or ball quickly to trick a defender.

For teachers: to perform a series of deceptive stick-handling moves to bypass a defender.

- The player dangled past two defenders and scored a beautiful goal.
- He managed to dangle through the neutral zone, leaving the opposing defense completely out of position.

Teaching tip: This sense is specific to ice hockey and occasionally floorball or lacrosse.

### 5. fake defector

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a spy who pretends they want to join the enemy to trick them.

For teachers: an agent who purports to be interested in defecting to a rival intelligence agency to act as a double agent.

- The agency suspected the new informant was actually a dangle sent by the enemy.
- Counter-intelligence officers spent months vetting the source to ensure he wasn't a dangle intended to feed them misinformation.

## Examples

- The doctor checked to see if the testicle was dangling correctly.
- The surgeon noted that the patient's testicle was dangling freely, indicating a normal descent during development.
- During the physical examination, the physician observed that the testicle was dangling asymmetrically, which may suggest a congenital condition or a recent injury.

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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.