hang back

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hang back

1. To stay behind as others move ahead. Hey, can you hang back for a minute? I have a question for you. I'm going to hang back for a bit and take some more pictures of the waterfall.

2. To wait to take action. Hang back on that project until I get these questions answered by the boss.

See also: back, hang

hang back

(from someone or something) to lag back behind someone or something; to stay back from someone or something, perhaps in avoidance. Why are you hanging back from the rest of the group? Come on! Don't hang back!

See also: back, hang

hang back

Be reluctant to move ahead, hold back. For example, They hung back at the entrance, fearful that they wouldn't be admitted, or We hung back to let our parents go in first. [Second half of 1500s]

See also: back, hang

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

hang back

1. To keep a distance behind others; lag: Everyone surged forward, but I hung back, afraid I'd be crushed. I hung back behind the popular kids as I walked through the hall.

2. To delay or hesitate on some task; hold off: You should hang back on filling out college applications until you get better test scores.

See also: back, hang

See also:

References in periodicals archive ?

In fairness to the former Leicester City man, he is under orders to hang back as cover when Glentoran take corner kicks.

Football: IT'S TORMENT FOR TIMOTHY

And Richard Park, the demon headmaster of the BBC's Fame Academy, won't hang back from giving them a verbal six of the best.

Dick's dastardly den; EXCLUSIVE: Host of telly's Fame Academy gives the Mail a tour

While demand remains steady, a lack of supply is pushing prices higher as automotive industry workers hang back in the Rover uncertainty.

Housing resists Rover stresses

Roughly a quarter of the fish in one group that was tested consistently fled from a novel intrusion poking into their pond, a yardstick with a red tip, but these apparently timid individuals were no more likely than other fish to hang back from sampling unfamiliar food.

Fish nature: sometimes shy, sometimes bold

It was clever of Barack Obama to hang back and force the Arabs to do something, but I think we may well say they should have been left to do more than lobby.

The Arabs must take the lead

"It was nice of the others to hang back so far," quipped Loder who leaves Newmarket at the end of the year to train for Sheikh Mohammed in France.

Christy called to account

But Chief Constable Robertson didn't hang back. "I have full confidence in all my staff," he blasted.

LADY BOSS COPS IT IN THE NECK

New research indicates that, within prides, some adult females serve as aggressive leaders who readily defend territory against intruders, while others emerge as laggards who always or frequently hang back in the face of such danger.

Return of the group

It was a pity he got stopped when Gateman hung off the rail, and the jockey said if he had come up the rail he might have won, but he was worried Gateman could hang back in front of him.

Longchamp: Domedriver foils British pair with flying finish

Our source adds: "Derek tried to hang back to let Cheryl do her thing, but she couldn't keep her eyes off him.

We Chez want to have fun; COLE PARTIES WITH DEREK

Alan said: "I'm trying to hang back. I'm not doing it on purpose."

Horses sweat, men perspire, Duchesses glow; CAMILLA FEELS THE HEAT AT SHOW

Cragg opted to hang back in the 3,000m pack before making his move in the final 800m.

Athletics: Cragg's double has rich reward

It's making it difficult for homebuyers who can afford it to decide whether to take the plunge or hang back. If they take the plunge they could buy a property whose value will fall, but if they hang back they may end up paying more.