hang up

hang up

1. [for a machine or a computer] to grind to a halt; to stop because of some internal complication. •

Our computer hung up right in the middle of printing the report.

•

I was afraid that my computer would hang up permanently.

2. to replace the telephone receiver after a call; to terminate a telephone call. •

I said good-bye and hung up.

•

Please hang up and place your call again.

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{v.} 1. To place on a hook, peg, or hanger. * /When the children come to school, they hang up their coats in the cloakroom./ 2a. To place a telephone receiver back on its hook and break the connection. * /Carol's mother told her she had talked long enough on the phone and made her hang up./ 2b. To put a phone receiver back on its hook while the other person is still talking. - Used with "on". * /I said something that made Joe angry, and he hung up on me./ 3a. {informal} To cause to be stuck or held so as to be immovable. - Usually used in the passive. * /Ann's car was hung up in a snowdrift and she had to call a garageman to get it out./ 3b. {informal} To stick or get held so as to be immovable. * /A big passenger ship hung up on a sandbar for several hours./ 4. {informal} To cause a wait; delay. * /Rehearsals for the school play were hung up by the illness of some of the actors./ 5. {informal} To set (a record.) * /Bob hung up a school record for long distance swimming./