hang-up

or hang·up

[ hang-uhp ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a preoccupation, fixation, or psychological block; complex:

   His hang-up is trying to outdo his brother.

2. a source of annoying difficulty or burden; impediment; snag:

   The most serious hang-up the project has is a shortage of funds.

3. a fixture, object, or decoration that can be affixed to a wall, ceiling, other objects, etc.:

   He brightened up the room with flower baskets and other hang-ups.

hang up

verb

1. tr to put on a hook, hanger, etc

   please hang up your coat

2. to replace (a telephone receiver) on its cradle at the end of a conversation, often breaking a conversation off abruptly
3. informal.
   tr; usually passiveusually foll byon to cause to have an emotional or psychological preoccupation or problem

   he's really hung up on his mother

noun

1. an emotional or psychological preoccupation or problem
2. a persistent cause of annoyance

Word History and Origins

Origin of hang-up¹

First recorded in 1955–60; noun use of verb phrase hang up