hang in the balance

hang in the bal·an·cé

H h

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [hang in stressed th ee bal-uh n-sey]
- /hæŋ ɪn stressed ði ˌbæl ənˈseɪ/
- /hæŋ ɪn ðə ˈbæləns/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [hang in stressed th ee bal-uh n-sey]
- /hæŋ ɪn stressed ði ˌbæl ənˈseɪ/

Definitions of hang in the balance words

verb with object hang in the balance to fasten or attach (a thing) so that it is supported only from above or at a point near its own top; suspend. 1
verb with object hang in the balance to attach or suspend so as to allow free movement: to hang a pendulum. 1
verb with object hang in the balance to place in position or fasten so as to allow easy or ready movement. 1
verb with object hang in the balance to put to death by suspending by the neck from a gallows, gibbet, yardarm, or the like. 1
verb with object hang in the balance to suspend (oneself) by the neck until dead: He hanged himself from a beam in the attic. 1
verb with object hang in the balance to fasten to a cross; crucify. 1

See all 54 definitions of hang in the balance

Information block about the term

Origin of hang in the balance

First appearance:

before 900

One of the 4% oldest English words

before 900; fusion of 3 verbs: (1) Middle English, Old English hōn to hang (transitive), cognate with Gothic hāhan, orig. *haghan; (2) Middle English hang(i)en, Old English hangian to hang (intransitive), cognate with German hangen; (3) Middle English henge < Old Norse hengja (transitive), cognate with German hängen to hang

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Hang in the balance

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Hang in the balance

hang in the balance popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 96% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

hang in the balance usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for hang in the balance

verb hang in the balance

hang — to fasten or attach (a thing) so that it is supported only from above or at a point near its own top; suspend.

Just one Synonym for hang in the balance

Matching words

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