hung-up

[ huhng-uhp ]
/ ˈhʌŋˈʌp /

adjective Slang.

beset with psychological problems.
worried; anxious; concerned.

Definition for hung up (2 of 3)

Origin of hang

before 900; fusion of 3 verbs: (1) Middle English, Old English hōn to hang (transitive), cognate with Gothic hāhan, orig. *haghan; (2) Middle English hang(i)en, Old English hangian to hang (intransitive), cognate with German hangen; (3) Middle English henge < Old Norse hengja (transitive), cognate with German hängen to hang

synonym study for hang

4. Hang, lynch have in common the meaning of “to put to death,” but lynching is not always by hanging. Hang, in the sense of execute, is in accordance with a legal sentence, the method of execution being to suspend by the neck until dead. To lynch, however, implies the summary putting to death, by any method, of someone charged with a flagrant offense (though guilt may not have been proved). Lynching is done by private persons, usually a mob, without legal authority. 26. depend, rely, rest, hinge.

usage note for hang

Hang has two forms for the past tense and past participle, hanged and hung. The historically older form hanged is now used exclusively in the sense of causing or putting to death: He was sentenced to be hanged by the neck until dead. In the sense of legal execution, hung is also quite common and is standard in all types of speech and writing except in legal documents. When legal execution is not meant, hung has become the more frequent form: The prisoner hung himself in his cell.

OTHER WORDS FROM hang

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH hang

hang lynch (see synonym study at the current entry) hanged hung (see usage note at the current entry)

Definition for hung up (3 of 3)

hung
[ huhng ]
/ hʌŋ /

verb

simple past tense and past participle of hang.

adjective

Slang: Vulgar. (of a male) having very large genitals.

usage note for hung

See hang.

OTHER WORDS FROM hung

un·hung, adjective well-hung, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH hung

hanged hung (see usage note at hang)

British Dictionary definitions for hung up (1 of 2)

hung
/ (hʌŋ) /

verb

the usual past tense and past participle of hang

adjective

  1. (of a legislative assembly) not having a party with a working majoritya hung parliament
  2. unable to reach a decisiona hung jury
  3. (of a situation) unable to be resolved
hung over informal suffering from the effects of a hangover
hung up slang
  1. impeded by some difficulty or delay
  2. in a state of confusion; emotionally disturbed
hung up on slang obsessively or exclusively interested in he's hung up on modern art these days

usage for hung

For most senses of hang the past tense and past participle is hung : I hung the curtains; he had hung the new painting on the wall . However, when the meaning is 'to suspend or be suspended by the neck until dead', the past tense and past participle is hanged : the traitors were hanged; they had hanged him at dawn . This form is also used in the idiom I'll be hanged

British Dictionary definitions for hung up (2 of 2)

hang
/ (hæŋ) /

verb hangs, hanging or hung (hʌŋ)

noun

Word Origin for hang

Old English hangian; related to Old Norse hanga, Old High German hangēn

Idioms and Phrases with hung up

hung up

see under hang up.