Street voices
Hugues
·
United States
"Hang in there. A phrase you tell someone when you want them to know things are not over and that there is still hope. Oh man, I can't go on, dude. She left me. There's no one left for me. Oh come on, there's always gonna be someone out there for you. She just wasn't the one, okay? Just hang in there."
What it means
A warm little phrase you throw someone when life’s got its boot on their neck and you want them to keep going. It means don’t give up yet, stay steady, ride out the rough patch. It can be sweet, sincere, or a tiny bit cheesy, which is why that famous kitten poster fits it perfectly.
Usage examples
"I know the landlord’s being a nightmare and payday feels miles off, but hang in there, mate, we’ll sort it and get a takeaway tonight."
"The first months of any new job feel impossible, so hang in there, by spring you will know the place like your own kitchen."
"Just hang in there a couple more weeks, love. Once the exams are done, your brain can finally stop doing backflips."
"I know rehab feels slow and a bit brutal right now, but hang in there, man, you're closer than you think."
"I know your visa stuff's been a full headache, but hang in there, yeah? Once the email lands, you'll finally be able to breathe."
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Where it comes from
This has been in American English since the 19th century as a plain image for holding on and staying firm in a rough moment. It got a huge pop culture glow-up in 1971 with the Hang in There, Baby kitten poster, which helped cement its soft, encouraging, slightly cheesy feel.
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