Phrasal verb
hang onto
Definition
phrasal verb. to keep something instead of giving it away or throwing it out; you can also use it to mean holding something tightly with your hands.
phrasal verb. to retain possession of an object or to maintain a physical grip on something; often used figuratively to describe keeping a job, a belief, or an advantage.
Examples
“You should hang onto that receipt in case you need a refund.”
“The climber had to hang onto the rope with both hands as the wind grew stronger.”
“Despite the economic downturn, the company managed to hang onto its market share by aggressively cutting costs and pivoting to digital services.”
Examples
simple
“You should hang onto that receipt in case you need a refund.”
contextual
“The climber had to hang onto the rope with both hands as the wind grew stronger.”
complex
“Despite the economic downturn, the company managed to hang onto its market share by aggressively cutting costs and pivoting to digital services.”
Usage
usually followed by a physical object or an abstract noun like 'hope', 'job', or 'lead'.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'keep' to show that 'hang onto' often implies a bit more effort or a specific decision not to let go.
Pitfall
I will hang on it.
I will hang onto it.
the preposition 'onto' is necessary to show the relationship with the object being kept or held.
Phrasal verb
Particles
onto
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
hang + onto + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/hang-onto