Quote
1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.
“If there’s anyone out there who is trying and they’re just losing hope, just hang in there.”
- Talk show host Jimmy Fallon on his and his wife’s struggle to get pregnant (Us Weekly)
Definition
1. Definition - Study the definition.
keep trying, don’t give up hope
2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.
When you were a kid, did you ever play on a jungle gym? A jungle gym is a set of metal bars, usually in a playground or schoolyard, that kids can climb on. Kids also often like to hang off the bars, by their hands or their legs. It can be fun to do that kind of thing for awhile, but eventually your arms or legs get tired, and you want to come down.
But what if you couldn’t come down? What if there was a pit of alligators beneath you? Or what if someone told you that they’d give you $1,000 if you stayed up? You would want to hang in there and not let go.
The expression hang in there is usually used more metaphorically. It means to stay in a situation even when it becomes difficult. The hope is that, if you keep holding on, eventually you’ll see some positive results.
Jimmy Fallon and his wife probably had moments that they wanted to let go when they were having difficulty conceiving a baby. But, eventually, his wife got pregnant. That’s why he advises others to hang in there and hope for the best.
Was there a time when you were faced with a difficult situation but you decided to hang in there?
Examples
1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.
“I know things are hard right now, but hang in there. It will get better.”
“My calculus class is so hard! My parents want me to hang in there, but I don’t know if I can do it.”
“In a relationship, it’s hard to know when to hang in there and when to call it quits.”