Phrasal verb
hinge upon
Definition
phrasal verb. to depend completely on something else to happen or be true.
phrasal verb. to depend entirely on a specific factor or event for a result or success; often used in formal or academic contexts to describe logical or causal dependency.
Examples
“The success of the party will hinge upon the weather.”
“The jury's final decision will hinge upon the DNA evidence presented by the prosecution.”
“The stability of the entire regional economy may hinge upon the outcome of these delicate trade negotiations.”
Examples
simple
“The success of the party will hinge upon the weather.”
contextual
“The jury's final decision will hinge upon the DNA evidence presented by the prosecution.”
complex
“The stability of the entire regional economy may hinge upon the outcome of these delicate trade negotiations.”
Usage
usually followed by a noun or a noun phrase representing the deciding factor.
Teaching tip
this is a more formal and precise version of 'depend on'; the image of a door hinge helps students visualize how one thing supports the movement of another.
Pitfall
The plan hinges from his approval.
The plan hinges upon his approval.
the verb 'hinge' must be followed by the preposition 'upon' or 'on', never 'from'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
upon
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
hinge + upon + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/hinge-upon