hang up

present singular third person hangs up · participle present hanging up · participle past hung up · past hung up

1. idiomatictransitiveTo put up to hang.

   I hung up my wash on the line.

2. ambitransitiveidiomaticTo terminate a telephone call, originally by hanging the receiver on its hook or cradle thereby automatically disconnecting the line.

   When my mother started telling me to be careful over the phone, I threatened to hang up on her.

   2 more examples

   And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me He'd grown up just like me My boy was just like me.

   1974, Harry Chapin and Sandra Chapin, “Cat's in the Cradle”, in Verities & Balderdash, performed by Harry Chapin

   Heather and Scott also called the police to confirm their son was reported missing. As soon as they hung up, they got in the car and began driving to the Sun Peaks resort.

   2026 August 18, Nicholas Muhoro, “Ryan Shtuka, 20, Vanished After Leaving a House Party at a Ski Resort in 2018. His Walk Home Was Only 300 Metres”, in Skip Boring, archived from the original on 18 Aug 2026

   Synonyms: ring off · Antonyms: pick up the phone

3. figurativelyidiomaticintransitiveTo stop talking.
4. colloquialidiomatictransitiveTo keep delayed, suspended, held up, or stuck.

   Seeing you's all I've been thinking about. You know I wouldn't hang you up this way if it wasn't for a damned good reason.

   1986, Charlotte Vale Allen, Time/Steps, page 396

5. idiomaticTo rob or mug (someone).
6. idiomaticTo arrest (someone); to send (someone) to prison.

   So call up Trudy on the telephone / Send her a letter in the mail / Tell her I'm hung up in Dallas / They won't let me out of this jail

   1971, Charlie Daniels, “Trudy”, in Charlie Daniels

7. idiomaticTo quit (something); to give up or stop doing (something); to abandon (something).

   I think it's time to hang it up.

   2 more examples

   He hung up the flute after college.

   Well, all God's children got to grow up / And play house, make vows to hang up their shoes

   1989, Melissa Etheridge, “You Used to Love to Dance”, in Brave and Crazy

8. idiomaticTo distress, disadvantage or harm (someone).