verb to spend time in a place without any specific purpose or to wait around
adverb in a casual or relaxed manner
Used informally to mean to spend time in a relaxed or leisurely manner
Often used by younger generations to refer to loitering or hanging out
Commonly used when making plans to meet up or spend time together
Casually used to indicate lingering or staying in a particular place without a specific purpose
In a professional setting, a writer may use 'hang about' when discussing the pacing of a story or article, suggesting that certain details or scenes should be 'hung about' in order to build suspense or engage the reader.
A psychologist may use 'hang about' when referring to a patient who is hesitant or resistant to discussing certain topics or experiences, suggesting that those issues are 'hanging about' in the person's mind and causing distress.
A teacher may use 'hang about' when discussing classroom management techniques, referring to students who are lingering or not following directions, and suggesting strategies to address this behavior.
A marketing manager may use 'hang about' when analyzing consumer behavior, referring to products or advertisements that are 'hanging about' in the minds of potential customers, influencing their purchasing decisions.