Are you having a tough time but looking for a way to deal with it? Maybe you know someone going through trials and tribulations and you want to say something encouraging. If so, the idiom hang in there will come in handy. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.
Meaning
The meaning of hang in there is for a person to stay strong in the face of adverse circumstances. One can be said to be strong or to stay strong in the face of adversity as well. If someone says to hang in there, it can also mean to remain steadfast for a set period of time or until relief comes along. The phrase also means not to give up when working towards a goal. If you want someone to maintain their determination, you can tell them to hang in there as well.
The easiest way to explain “hang in there” is by saying in means not to give up regardless of the circumstances. It is a phrase that is often used to give others encouragement during tough times. When someone shares bad news or gives an indirect plea for help, it is common to respond with “hang in there” as a form of passive encouragement.
Example Usage
“Just hang in there, things are going to be alright”.
“It may seem like a good time to give up, just hang in there, good times are on the horizon”.
“Try to just hang in there until your next paycheck, then you can get the treatment you need”.
“Things are really tough right now, telling me to hang in there is not actually helpful”.
Origin
For most people, the phrase hang in there has been around their whole lives. This of course is for good reason, it has been around a while. The words to hang specifically are Old English which means be suspended. During the late 60s and early 70s, the phrase hang in there came to be and gained popularity. Victor Baldwin was a well-known photographer who created some of the first motivational posters ever. Baldwin, who shot famous people such as Donald Regan and Frank Sinatra, had a penchant for photographing animals as well.
In 1963, he shot one such photo of a cat, which he and his wife published. One picture of a cat titled “The Outcast Kitten” was placed on the back of the book cover. The cat, named Sassy was hanging off of a bamboo pole which went on to become one of the most favored images of all time. Baldwin eventually made the picture into a poster and added the phrase “hang in there”. The phrase we use today is this exact phrase.
Phrases Similar to Hang in There
- Don’t surrender
- Be strong
- Avoid surrender
- Put on a brave face
- Always persevere
- Carry on
- Try to persist
Phrases Opposite to Hang in There
- Give up
- Succumb
- Give in
- Submit
- Allow things to take their course
- Bow down
- Yield
What is the Correct Saying?
- The proper saying is – hang in there baby.
Ways People May Incorrectly Say Hang in There
Some ways that Hang in There is used incorrectly are:
- I am always telling my students to hang in there when their arms get tired.
- Let’s just give up and hang in there.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Hang in There
Some ways that Hang in There is used correctly are:
- I know it can be hard to stay positive when things are so tough but just hang in there for a little bit longer.
- I don’t like having to wear layers of hot clothes to work daily, but I’ll hang in there until I find a better job.
- When the going gets tough, don’t get going, hang in there and find a solution to help you move forward.
- John really wants to get a divorce, but I keep telling him to hang in there until the kids graduate next year.