hanging

have something hanging over one's head

Fig. to have something bothering or worrying one; to have a deadline worrying one. I keep worrying about my old car breaking down. I hate to have something like that hanging over my head. I have a history paper that is hanging over my head.

See also: have, head

leave someone or something hanging (in midair) and keep someone or something hanging (in midair) 

1. Lit. to keep someone or something suspended in midair when support for the person or thing is removed. The ladder collapsed and left me hanging in midair. Fortunately, I grabbed onto the windowsill.

2. Fig. to suspend dealing with someone or something; to leave someone or something waiting to be finished or continued. She left her sentence hanging in midair. Tell me the rest of the story. Don't leave me hanging in midair.

See also: leave

low-hanging fruit

Fig. the easiest person(s) to sell something to, to convince of something, or to fool. (From the much older easy pickings.) People who always want to be the first to buy something, they're low-hanging fruit for this product. Don't be satisfied with the low-hanging fruit. Go after the hard-sell types.

See also: fruit

stand there with one's bare face hanging out

Rur. to stand some place looking helpless and stupid. Say something. Don't just stand there with your bare face hanging out. she just stood there with her bare face hanging out while they took away everything she owned.

See also: bare, face, out, stand

---

be hanging over you   also be hanging over your head

if something is hanging over you, it is causing you to worry all the time He's got financial worries hanging over him too which can't make life any easier.

See be left hanging

be left hanging (in the air/in midair)

if a problem or question is left hanging in the air, it is not dealt with or answered We failed to resolve the issue at the last meeting and it was left hanging in the air.

See also: left

---

have something hanging over your head

to be worried about something you have to do I hate having all those bills hanging over my head.

See also: have, head

leave somebody hanging

to keep someone waiting for a decision or answer (leave somebody to) twist in the wind I was left hanging for three weeks before I got a call offering me the job.

See also: leave

leave something hanging

to delay making a decision about something We don't know if we can buy the house yet because the bank left our loan application hanging.

Related vocabulary: up in the air

See also: leave