hanger

n. uncountable

B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈhæŋɝ// UK //hˈæŋɐ// hang·er

Archaic Informal Slang

n. the feeling of being angry or annoyed because you are hungry. It is a mix of the words 'hungry' and 'angry'.

n. a state of irritability or anger caused by a lack of food. An informal portmanteau of 'hungry' and 'angry'.

SIMPLE

I get terrible hanger if I skip lunch.

CONTEXTUAL

She apologized for her short temper, explaining that it was just hanger and she needed a snack.

COMPLEX

While often discussed in a lighthearted context, hanger reflects a genuine physiological response where low blood sugar levels trigger the release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.

Etymology 1

Inherited from Middle English hanger, haunger, hangere, equivalent to hang + -er. Cognate with West Frisian hinger (“hanger”), Dutch hanger (“hanger”), German Hänger (“hanger”), Henker (“hangman”), Danish hænger (“hanger”), Norwegian henger (“hanger”), Swedish hängare (“hanger”).

Etymology 2

Blend of hunger + anger.

Usage

Typically used in informal spoken English to explain sudden irritability.