hang up

Meaning

This phrasal verb has two primary everyday meanings: to end a phone call (by disconnecting) or to hang clothing on a hook or hanger. It is a neutral, highly common term used in daily chores and communications.

Examples

• Don't hang up yet, I have one more thing to tell you.

  Don't hang up yet, I have one more thing to tell you.

• Please hang up your coat in the closet near the front door.

  Please hang up your coat in the closet near the front door.

• She was so angry that she hung up on me mid-sentence.

  She was so angry that she hung up on me mid-sentence.

• I need to hang up these wet clothes so they can dry.

  I need to hang up these wet clothes so they can dry.

• The salesperson hung up before I could even say no thank you.

  The salesperson hung up before I could even say no thank you.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ She hung up the phone to me.

  ✓ She hung up on me.

  When someone abruptly ends a call while talking to you, use the preposition 'on' (hang up on someone).

• ✗ I will hang down my shirt.

  ✓ I will hang up my shirt.

  To place clothing on a hook or hanger, we always use 'hang up', never 'hang down'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Make sure you ___ your wet towel in the bathroom.

  💡 place on a hook

  Show answer

  hang up

• I had to ___ because my battery was about to die.

  💡 end the phone call

  Show answer

  hang up