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Thread: Hang on a sec...

  1. #1
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    Hang on a sec...

    "Hang on a sec" ("Hang on a second") and "Hang on a min" ("Hang on a minute") get loads of hits on Google and you will hear English speakers using these expressions frequently - speaking for English English In this case it means, 'wait for a short period of time'.

    It's one of few two-word entries - Hang on - in an English dictionary. It means:-
    1. To cling tightly to something.
    2. To continue persistently; persevere.
    3. To keep a telephone connection open.
    4. To wait for a short period of time.

  2. #2
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    Just off the top of my head, here are some more for you to ponder

    Hang on
    Hold on
    Hold up
    Hold down
    Hold out
    Shut up
    Hang up
    Sit down
    Lie down
    Sit up
    Stand up
    Get up
    Break up
    Break out
    Make up
    Make out
    Work out
    Figure out
    Work up

    I'm sure there must be many more.

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    Americans say "hang/hold on/up (a sec)/(a min)" often too.

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    What was the original post in aid of? And how is Scotcher's post connected with it? Is this a name your favourite phrasal verb competition? If so, here's my two copecks - eff off.
    Show yourself - destroy our fears - release your mask

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    Heh, good example.

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    Quote Originally Posted by VendingMachine
    What was the original post in aid of?
    Sorry mate I didn't know that posts had to be in aid of something, I just thought that someone learning English might be interested And those that were not would simply feel free to move on to another post. Anyway, here's some more stuff, phrasal verbs I think VendingMachine called them, to add to scotcher's excellent list: -

    back out of
    break in to
    check up on
    get away with
    go down with
    hang on to
    look up to
    make up for
    put up with
    run out of
    stand up for

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    Quote Originally Posted by майк
    break in to
    I've always thought that it's to 'break into', as in 'The wine cellar has been broken into and all the bottles stolen." On the other hand, how about this: "The police finally broke in to discover an empty safe and a note reading FANTAMAS SENDS HIS COMPLIMENTS", but it's a totally different thing, cos here 'to' isn't part of a phrasal verb, it's there because of the infinitive 'to discover'. Or am I wrong?
    Show yourself - destroy our fears - release your mask

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    Quote Originally Posted by VendingMachine
    Or am I wrong?
    @VendingMachine - I'm sure you're correct, but if I wanted to understand the finer details of the English language I wouldn’t ask me
    It seems to me that, 'break into' and 'break in to' mean the same thing. Are they interchangeable? I’ve no idea, but I’m sure that there will be a rule! I would probably use 'break into' when the thing was an object that I could break into - like a safe or a house. But I would use, 'break in to a sweat' or 'break in to a new market'. Probably I'd just mix them up because I'm better at arithmetic. And I’d probably write, ‘break into a conversation’ – and that isn’t an object!!!

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    Quote Originally Posted by майк
    Quote Originally Posted by VendingMachine
    Or am I wrong?
    @VendingMachine - I'm sure you're correct, but if I wanted to understand the finer details of the English language I wouldn’t ask me
    It seems to me that, 'break into' and 'break in to' mean the same thing. Are they interchangeable? I’ve no idea, but I’m sure that there will be a rule! I would probably use 'break into' when the thing was an object that I could break into - like a safe or a house. But I would use, 'break in to a sweat' or 'break in to a new market'. Probably I'd just mix them up because I'm better at arithmetic. And I’d probably write, ‘break into a conversation’ – and that isn’t an object!!!
    'In to' is wrong. Wrong. Plain as such.
    А если отнять еще одну?

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    You would 'break into ' a sweat and 'break into' a new market or break into a fit of giggles or break into a run. We wouldn't use 'in' and 'to' seperately unless it was as Vending Machine pointed out in his example. Have you noticed when you keep repeating the same word it looks as though you've spelt it wrong eventually? Or is that just me?

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    Not necessarily, joysof. The burglar broke in to steal the jewelry.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jasper May
    Not necessarily, joysof. The burglar broke in to steal the jewelry.
    Verily context is everything.
    А если отнять еще одну?

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    "Break in" and "break into" are interchangeable, when they mean "intrude, interrupt, enter something forcibly". "Break in to" is not an eloquently written version of "break into", it is more than that.
    Jonesboro, Arkansas. Mean, stupid, violent fat people, no jobs, nothing to do, hotter than a dog with 2 d--cks.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jasper May
    Not necessarily, joysof. The burglar broke in to steal the jewelry.
    Oi, that was my idea - see above. I got bagsies!
    Show yourself - destroy our fears - release your mask

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    Sorry, didn't see that. All credit to VM.
    Army Anti-Strapjes
    Nay, mats jar tripes
    Jasper is my Tartan
    I am a trans-Jert spy
    Jerpty Samaritans
    Pijams are tyrants
    Jana Sperm Tit Arsy

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    Does it help to consider whether you "log into a computer" or "log in to a computer" ?

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    Personally, I "log on" to a computer.

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    And I get authenticated. That pesky get again here!
    Jonesboro, Arkansas. Mean, stupid, violent fat people, no jobs, nothing to do, hotter than a dog with 2 d--cks.

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    Quote Originally Posted by майк
    Does it help to consider whether you "log into a computer" or "log in to a computer" ?
    If we're talking about forcibly entering something,
    Break into (object)
    Break in (no object)
    Break in (to verb)

    I broke in to steal. I broke into the house to steal. But I can't say "I broke in the house to steal" or "I broke into to steal."

    Of course, that might have been already cleared up. But this post made it look like you weren't quite sure.

    Also, you can break in new things. For example:
    After I bought the boots, I went on a long hike to break them in.

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    gotta love English. :lol

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