# hang up on

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hang-up-on
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to end a phone call suddenly because you are angry with the person you are talking to.

For teachers: to terminate a telephonic conversation abruptly and unilaterally, typically as a result of irritation or conflict.

## Examples

- Don't hang up on me while I'm talking!
- He was so rude during our argument that I just decided to hang up on him.
- The customer service representative was shocked when the caller abruptly hung up on her mid-sentence without providing an account number.

## Pitfalls

- Not "She hung up the phone on me." but "She hung up on me." — while 'hang up the phone' is correct for ending a call, the three-part phrasal verb 'hang up on [someone]' is the standard way to describe cutting someone off.

## Usage notes

- the object is always the person being disconnected, not the phone itself.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'hang up' (neutral ending of a call); adding 'on' changes the focus to the person being treated rudely.

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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.