hang upon

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

1. To regard with passionate affection.

   Beshrew the eyes that hung upon his form on that day with a passionate, greedy, all-absorbing love!

   1916, Varahaneri Venkatesa Subramaniam Aiyar, The Kural or the Maxims of Tiruvalluvar

2. To pay overt attention to, as from sycophancy or intense interest.

   They hung upon his every word.

   1 more example

   "It is quite five years since my eyes last hung upon your honorable face."

   1906, Mary McNeil Fenollosa, The Dragon Painter

3. governmentTo hover around.

   and it was therefore decided merely to take precautions against a raid, fortify certain points on the roads, and bring out a host of irregulars to hang upon the rear and flanks of the enemy

   1919, Justin Harvey Smith, The War with Mexico

4. idiomaticTo depend upon.

   Everything hangs upon whether the boss agrees.

   1 more example

   Has it struck you that another life may hang upon your answer? As a rule men are loth to send their fathers to death

   1901, H. Rider Haggard, Lysbeth: A Tale of the Dutch

   Synonyms: hang on