Meaning of hang-up | Babel Free

Definitions

1. An emotional difficulty or a psychological inhibition.
   informal
2. An unforeseen obstacle to progress; a hitch or delay.

Examples

“Near-synonyms: neurosis, obsession, complex”

“We’re said to have so many hang-ups that we don’t even talk about sex until we’re in the pub, and to need to be blind drunk before anything approaching physical contact occurs.”

“I have hang-ups left over from childhood about my body. My wife sometimes reminds me that, instead of saying, “I want to be thin”, I could say, “I want to be happy”, which is profoundly good advice.”

“As if the overpowering sense of grief wasn’t enough, Munch’s art unashamedly confesses to massive sexual hangups.”

“How can I help my partner get over his hangups? Letting him have sex with other men isn’t working [title]”

“Near-synonym: setback”

“What a hang up I got into at once! As I look back on it it's incredible that I could have been so damned dumb.”

“Consumers say yes, the numbers add up, industry is largely on board and Labor has no policy hang-ups. This week could be the turning point[.]”

CEFR level