Search
to hang back
[phrase form: hang]
01
to delay leaving or staying in a place after everyone else has departed
Intransitive: to hang back | to hang back somewhere
02
to hesitate to do or say something, often due to uncertainty or shyness
Intransitive: to hang back | to hang back from sth
hang back
v
Example
The students were asked to hang back for a meeting with their teacher after class.
She decided to hang back at the office to finish some work after her colleagues had gone home.
Despite the storm, a few campers chose to hang back in their tents and wait for the rain to pass.
The hikers were tired but wanted to hang back a bit longer to enjoy the sunset.
Some students may hang back from asking questions in class because they fear looking foolish.
