# hinge on

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to depend completely on something in order to be successful or to happen.

For teachers: to depend entirely on a specific factor or event; used to indicate that one outcome is contingent upon another.

## Examples

- The success of the party hinges on the weather.
- The entire legal case hinges on whether the witness is telling the truth.
- The future of the peace treaty hinges on the willingness of both parties to compromise on territorial boundaries.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The plan hinges of his decision." but "The plan hinges on his decision." — the verb 'hinge' must be followed by the preposition 'on' or 'upon', never 'of'.

## Usage notes

- usually followed by a noun or a noun phrase representing the critical factor.
- Teaching tip: anchor this to the physical 'hinge' of a door; just as a door cannot swing without its hinge, the situation cannot move forward without the key factor.

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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.