hang on

attendre, patienter

Attendre un petit moment.

En anglais simple : To wait for a short time.

• Hang on a minute.
• Can you hang on while I check the address?
• She asked me to hang on until the manager arrived.

Comment l'utiliser : hang on a moment/minute/second (Hang on a second while I find my keys.)

Synonymes : wait, hold on

Expressions courantes : hang on briefly, hang on please

s’accrocher, se tenir fermement

Tenir fermement quelque chose pour rester en sécurité ou ne pas le perdre.

En anglais simple : To hold something firmly so that you stay safe or do not lose it.

• Hang on tight!
• He hung on to the rope with both hands.
• Can you hang on until I pull you up?

Comment l'utiliser : hang on to something (Hang on to the rail as you go down.)

Synonymes : hold on, cling

Contraires : let go

Expressions courantes : hang on tight, hang on to something

garder, conserver

Garder quelque chose au lieu de le jeter ou de le rendre tout de suite.

En anglais simple : To keep something rather than throw it away or give it back yet.

• Hang on to that receipt.
• I hung on to her bag while she went swimming.
• Should we hang on to these old photos?

Comment l'utiliser : hang on to something (Hang on to your receipt in case you need a refund.); hang on to something for someone (Could you hang on to this bag for me?)

Synonymes : keep, hold on to, retain

Contraires : discard

Expressions courantes : hang on to something, hang on to receipts

tenir bon, résister

Continuer à faire des efforts ou à tenir bon pendant une période difficile.

En anglais simple : To keep trying or surviving during a difficult time.

• Hang on; help is coming.
• She hung on despite the pain.
• Can the business hang on for another month?

Comment l'utiliser : hang on until… (We must hang on until help arrives.)

Synonymes : hold on, keep going, persevere

Contraires : give up

Expressions courantes : hang on longer, hang on bravely

écouter religieusement, être suspendu aux lèvres de

Écouter chaque parole de quelqu’un avec beaucoup d’intérêt ou d’admiration.

En anglais simple : To listen with great interest or admiration to everything someone says.

• They hang on her every word.
• The children hung on every word of his story.
• Why does everyone hang on everything that actor says?

Comment l'utiliser : hang on someone’s every word (The students hung on the scientist’s every word.); hang on every word someone says (Her fans hang on every word she says.)

Synonymes : listen attentively

Expressions courantes : hang on every word, hang on someone’s words

s’accrocher à, continuer à croire en

Continuer à croire en une idée ou à garder espoir, même quand cela devient difficile.

En anglais simple : To continue believing in an idea or hope, even when it becomes difficult.

• Hang on to your dreams.
• He hung on to his faith through years of hardship.
• They still hang on to the hope of finding their son.

Comment l'utiliser : hang on to something (She hung on to the belief that he would return.)

Synonymes : hold on to, cling to

Contraires : abandon

Expressions courantes : hang on to hope, hang on to beliefs