leave hanging Idiom, Proverb
leave (one) hanging
To withhold information from one when it is expected to be delivered, or more broadly to leave one in an unsettled state or without some kind of resolution. Hey, don't leave me hanging—did you get the job or not? The consultants were supposed to deliver the report last week, but they've kind of left us hanging.See also: hanging, leaveleave 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: hanging, leaveleave hanging
Also, leave hanging in the air or in midair . Keep undecided, uncertain, or in suspense. For example, Since we hadn't found a big enough hall, we left the final date hanging, or She couldn't figure out a good ending for the book, so her audience was left hanging in midair . See also: hanging, leave
leave hanging
leave hanging Also,
leave hanging in the air or
in midair. Keep undecided, uncertain, or in suspense. For example,
Since we hadn't found a big enough hall, we left the final date hanging, or
She couldn't figure out a good ending for the book, so her audience was left hanging in midair.
leave hanging (in the air)
leave undecided or unsettled Whether or not they will be leaving next year was left hanging in the air at the end of the meeting.
leave hanging in midair
Idiom(s):
leave someone or something hanging in midair AND keep someone or something hanging in midairTheme:
WAITING
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.
• She left us hanging in midair when she paused.
• Tell me the rest of the story. Don't leave me hanging in midair.
• Don't leave the story hanging in midair.
leave hanging|air|hang|hanging|hanging in the air|
v. phr. To leave undecided or unsettled. Because the committee could not decide on a time and place, the matter of the spring dance was left hanging. Ted's mother didn't know what to do about the broken window, so his punishment was left hanging in the air until his father came home.
Compare: UP IN THE AIR.