I'm starting to get the hang of how this computer works. suggest new. For When 'Lowdown Crook' Isn't Specific Enough. After hanging and rehanging an axe, you start to get (or understand) how to position the handle just right on the axe head. Instituted in 1715, the Riot Act gave the British government the authority to label any group of more than 12 people a threat to the peace. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Did Billy Graham speak to Marilyn Monroe about Jesus? When a person is hung, the moment after the drop where the rope snaps tight either breaks the person's neck or it doesn't. All posts copyright their original authors. aptitude. The game sounds really complicated when it's being explained out loud, but you'll get the hang of it once you start playing. Every time I get the hang of an idea it suddenly turns into something different and I turn into a fool! When letters make sounds that aren't associated w One goose, two geese. It took him a long time to get the hang of all the irregular verbs. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. On a scientific/technical note - most people who die from hanging don't die from either a broken neck or strangulation. Hence, "Can you shoot This expression is used when we want to talk about becoming skillful at something after starting to do it for the first time. The fascinating story behind many people's favori Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz! Delivered to your inbox! Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance master get learn pick up understand know drink (in) find out search (for) hit (on or upon) see study hear discover track (down) run down tumble (to) absorb It doesn't seem to have been originally associated with drapery or any other special use of hang; the connecting notion might be "general bent or tendency." To top it all off, the mob literally painted a tollgate, the doors of several homes and a swan statue with red paint. To get the hang of (something) "become capable" is from 1834, American English, perhaps originally in reference to a certain tool or feat, but, if so, its origin has been forgotten. to get the hang of: to become familiar with the proper wielding or use of a tool; fig. Today, sailors and landlubbers alike now use the phrase as a synonym for all things considered or for the most part., There are several tales about the origin of the third degree, a saying commonly used for long or arduous interrogations. I'd guess that often when you're done with something you hang it up, so perhaps it can be derived as completion (being done) of something such as learning a skill. get the hang. Don't worry, in a few days you'll get the hang of it. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Learn the proper way of doing, using or handling something; acquire the knack of something. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. After a few months you start getting the hang of the language and expressing yourself quite well. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. It took him a long time to get the hang of all the irregular verbs. informal (understand) . For more information, please see our 2023. I never got the hang of playing video games so I hate them. Venerable Greeks and Romans, or laureates, were thus able to rest on their laurels by basking in the glory of past achievements. Idiom: get the hang of something learn how to do something to understand the technique of doing something Example sentences I got the hang of ice-skating the first time I tried it. 18 other terms for got the hang of it- words and phrases with similar meaning. Get the hang of. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/get%20the%20hang%20of. Learn the proper way of doing, using or handling something; acquire the knack of something. I just scored 10,000 points! Running amok is commonly used to describe wild or erratic behavior, but the phrase actually began its life as a medical term. At first you drive all jerky and the car stalls a lot. Extra Examples kill somebody ( hanged, hanged) What is wrong with reporter Susan Raff's arm on WFSB news. But To begin having or acquire a general sense of how to do or use something or how something operates; to become familiar with something. Learn the proper way of doing, using or handling something; acquire the knack of something. Thus, I think most of the hung individuals would have died very quickly and the need to 'get the hang of it' would have been minimal. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. When we use this expression, we use either the past tense (I got the hang of it), future tense (I will get the hang of it)or present continuous tense (Im getting the hang of it). At first, speaking Japanese was really hard for me, but I got the hang of it after a little while. The saying was popularized in the 18th and 19th centuries, when European visitors to Malaysia learned of a peculiar mental affliction that caused otherwise normal tribesmen to go on brutal and seemingly random killing sprees. Please note, I'm not sure at all about this, so I'd like to know if anyone else has heard this. The dog's tongue was hanging out. T Tabac Senior Member I took her ice-skating for the first time, and she got the hang of it right away. See also: get, hang, of However, for a better show, if the neck didn't break, the person would twitch and struggle and suffer death by strangulation, although this was considered sloppy work. Learn a new word every day. DePendAble means you are Able to Hang From something In every business,in every industry, management does matter. Its so confusing! "Not yet, but soon I'll get the hang of it.". Accessed 1 May. it means that to catch a criminal (and presumably have him But, you had to mentally calculate how far in front to The idiom for this week is to get the hang of something. The marquis and his pranksters later compensated Melton for the damages, but their drunken escapade is likely the reason that paint the town red became shorthand for a wild night out. Thus, for mariners, by and large referred to trawling the seas in any and all directions relative to the wind. Philately is to Stamps as ____ is to Rocks. One explanation I've heard - and I can't confirm it's true, but it makes sense and is interesting in any case - is here: I don't know specifically, but I would guess it originates in some trade where you would literally hang somethinglike wallpaper. For example, if you get or find your bearings, you succeed in learning about a new situation, especially learning where things are: It takes a while to get your bearings when you start a new job. I believe it refers to the process of "hanging" or putting a handle on an axe. You get the hang of the thing. She pedals down the street with her father running behind steadying the bike. For example: I know chess can be hard, but Im sure youll get the hang of it eventually. without risk of it letting you down. I'm not sure, but I was told it originated with a far less pleasant topic. And I don't think there's anything particularly unclear about it; one of the things you do when you get accustomed to a tool is get the heft, the feel, of it, part of which involves getting used to the way it hangs from your hand. It refers to a person trying to learn a new skill or new subject and the moment when all the study and or practice pays off. The Sun (2010) And incredibly, it doesn't take long to get the hang of it. to shoot it. to learn how to do something, especially if it is not obvious or simple: 2. to learn how to do I havent got the hang of how to use the coffee-making machine yet. Times, Sunday Times (2006) [informal] It's a bit tricky at first till you get the hang of it. Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary, a straw will show which way the wind blows, (I) wouldn't (do something) if I were you, the webmaster's page for free fun content, I don't want to sound like a busybody, but, I find your lack of (something) disturbing, I hear what you're saying, and I hear you. While ostensibly a reward, the creatures were tremendously expensive to feed and house, and caring for one often drove the recipient into financial ruin. Hang fire. Is Brooke shields related to willow shields? According to legend, if an underling or rival angered a Siamese king, the royal might present the unfortunate man with the gift of a white elephant. Therefore,we oftensay She never got the hang of it. or Ill never get the hang of it. However, if we use the present continuous, we dont use the wordnever. Once you get the hang of it, reading a good play can be a delightful and challenging experience. The Sun (2015) It is pretty easy to get the hang of. Noun. to get to understand, manage, master, deal with as an adept; to acquire the knack of. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Now, imagine, say, an animal running obliquely to you. I think that came later. get how this works. There was a time-delay between To get the hang of (something) "become capable" is from 1834, American English, perhaps originally in reference to a certain tool or feat, but, if so, its origin has been forgotten. what is the origin of the (LogOut/ The "public executions by hanging" derivation is ridiculous. What is another word for getting the hang of? Need synonyms for hang of it similar words thesaurus that you can use instead. In its earliest incarnation in the 1700s, the expression described condemned men who struggled the longest when they were executed by hanging. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! Some historians have since dismissed Nelsons famous quip as merely a battlefield myth, but the phrase turn a blind eye persists to this day. got a knack. Like a child learning how to ride a bicycle. . After a few months you start getting the hang of the language and expressing yourself quite well. likewise, not let you down when you need him. Lists. Times, Sunday Times (2010) You'll get the hang of it with no pressure to perform. See also: get, hang, of I know it's a little tricky getting the hang of the machine, but just keep practicing and you'll get it. It took him a long time to get the hang of all the irregular verbs. and our READ ALONG TO PRACTICE YOUR ENGLISH AND TO LEARN THE MEANING OF GET THE HANG OF IT: So when you first start doing something you're not very good at it, but i. Ask MetaFilter is where thousands of life's little questions are answered. phrases. To save this word, you'll need to log in. It An example of get the hang of is a beginning knitter who has just created her first scarf without dropping a stitch. See, I like the usages I cited where "hang" is clearly a. I always thought it was an archaic usage of "hang" as suggested by dhartung's last search result, meaning balance and related to using a tool. Notices painted on sheets hang at every entrance. An acquired or natural skill at doing something. What did it mean, originally, to "get the hang" of something? [VERB preposition/adverb] What is the origin of Getting the hang of it? Get the hang of. Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/get%20the%20hang%20of. below the knee. be used to it. They're perfect to use offline for reference or for use in class! get the hang of ( third-person singular simple present gets the hang of, present participle getting the hang of, simple past got the hang of, past participle (UK) got the hang of or (US) gotten the hang of ) ( colloquial) To begin to understand or manage at a basic level; to learn to handle with some skill. However, for a better show, if the neck didn't break, the . This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Get a new gun, the hang time may differ. Pretty sure it refers to hanging something (like a framed photo or painting) up so that it is straight. getting the hang. There's a moment when she "gets the hang of it" and can ride on her own. as soon as you "get the hang of it", you're used to driving I haven't played it in a week, I was just getting the . ing. In the midst of the fight, a wounded British officer named William Inglis supposedly urged his unit forward by bellowing Stand your ground and die hard make the enemy pay dear for each of us! Inglis 57th Regiment suffered 75 percent casualties during the battle, and went on to earn the nickname the Die Hards.. There's no claim to be certain that that was what it "originally" meant. Join 8,034 readers in helping fund MetaFilter. Buy our lists of British English, American English and Animal idioms in PDF format. in the act by affording him greater leeway/opportunity (as in a Robbins says: "When you have a guy, I guess like myself, who can hang the ball up there, have high hang time, you benefit more from pro-style and letting your fast guys get down there . I havent got the hang of how to use the coffee-making machine yet. At first the movie made no sense to me, but after a while I got the hang of it. Children hung (= were leaning) over the gate. specific task. Also, if we use it in the negative, it's very common to use the word "never". So, we would say Im not getting the hang of this. Note that we use the word this instead of it because its happening at that moment. I know it's a little tricky getting the hang of the machine, but just keep practicing and you'll get it. verb transitive Word forms: hung, hanging, hanged 1. to attach to something above with no support from below; suspend 2. to attach so as to permit free motion at the point of attachment to hang a door on its hinges 3. to put to death by tying a rope about the neck and suddenly suspending the body so as to snap the neck or cause strangulation 4. That's my guess, anyway. Accessed 1 May. 10. skill. The more we practice what we learn, the more we get the hang of it. Apollo was usually depicted with a crown of laurel leaves, and the plant eventually became a symbol of status and achievement. For example. get the hang of something phrase informal Add to word list C2 to learn how to do something, especially if it is not obvious or simple: "I've never used this program before." "Don't worry - you'll soon get the hang of it." I had never sailed a boat before but by the third day, I was getting the hang of it. get into the swing of it. Find out more about the unusual origin stories behind 10 everyday phrases. This is not for the squeamish. The idea of resting on your laurels dates back to leaders and athletic stars of ancient Greece. become proficient in acquire the skill of acquire the technique of catch on to learn the art of get going get into your stride get up to speed acquire become skilled at get become competent in know inside out get down pat learn the ropes gain familiarize oneself with get clued up about familiarize yourself with hit the books acquire skill in more If you're doing it right you would have "gotten the hang of it". I dont think Ill ever get the hang of this new computer software. Informal. something: I haven't got the hang of how to use the coffee-making machine yet. [VERB preposition/adverb] A light-bulb hanging from the ceiling filled the room with a cold yellow light. The phrase paint the town red most likely owes its origin to one legendary night of drunkenness. Hang your hat on (something) Idiom eBooks from UsingEnglish.com. antonyms. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. It took me a few minutes to get the hang of things when I put the Legend through an amp. catch that. The bender culminated in vandalism after Waterford and his fellow revelers knocked over flowerpots, pulled knockers off of doors and broke the windows of some of the towns buildings. { idioms }. synonyms. Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary, a straw will show which way the wind blows, (I) wouldn't (do something) if I were you, the webmaster's page for free fun content. It remains a diagnosable mental condition to this day. Cookie Notice get the hang of something1. We strive for accuracy and fairness. When a person is hung, the moment after the drop where the rope snaps tight either breaks the person's neck or it doesn't. The humanitarian thing was to let the person's neck break; this caused a quick death. Only later did the phrase take on a negative connotation, and since the 1800s it has been used for those who are overly satisfied with past triumphs. So, we would say . Therefore, we often say "She never got the hang of it." or "I'll never get the hang of it.". To begin having or acquire a general sense of how to do or use something or how something operates; to become familiar with something. Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window), Horatio Nelson. It took him a long time to get the hang of all the irregular verbs. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. I'm starting to get the hang of how this computer works. Definition of get the hang of as in master to acquire complete knowledge, understanding, or skill in He's really getting the hang of riding his bike now. something: I haven't got the hang of how to use the coffee-making machine yet. informal (learn to do) . It doesn't seem to have been originally associated with drapery or any other special use of hang; the connecting notion might be "general bent or tendency." At first you drive all jerky and the car stalls a lot.. (VCG Wilson/Corbis via Getty Images), https://www.history.com/news/10-common-sayings-with-historical-origins, 10 Common Sayings With Historical Origins. 12. If you're learning how to drive a stick shift, for example. colloq.) You want YourDictionary In truth, the saying is most likely derived from the Freemasons, a centuries-old fraternal organization whose members undergo rigorous questioning and examinations before becoming third degree members, or master masons.. One moose, two moose. Comes from the use of a musket. Languagehat, I know that this your bailiwick, but the OED's oldest cite there is 1845, and it seems far from confident, since that use is clearly one that was written long after the writer expected the idiom to be understood. Maybe I misread. Windzepher/iStock. My grandmother tried to teach my mom how to knit, but she never got the hang of it. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/I+am+getting+the+hang+of+it. Posted by James Briggs on September 24, 2003, In Reply to: "Get the hang of it" posted by Dan on September 24, 2003. : I checked the archives, but previous explanations of this phrase don't agree with me. pendulum, pendant and pendulous. After a few months you start getting the hang of the language and expressing yourself quite well. What is the origin of the phrase "getting the hang" of something? knack. get the hang of something ( informal) learn or begin to understand how to do, use, etc. verb To get the hang of is defined as to learn how to do something and to become better or more skilled at something that you may initially not have been very good at. Contexts Acquiring complete knowledge or skill in Present participle for to be aware of the meaning of Verb Acquiring complete knowledge or skill in getting mastering learning grasping picking up acquiring comprehending understanding becoming competent in becoming expert in becoming proficient at All Rights Reserved. I'm starting to get the hang of how this computer works. The back of my brain is busy trying to tie this all together with "get the knack of" which leads me to "knickknack", which wait wasn't I. I agree with languagehat on everything except the "wielding" metaphor. get the hang of (something) To begin having or acquire a general sense of how to do or use something or how something operates; to become familiar with something. definitions. The phrase turn a blind eyeoften used to refer to a willful refusal to acknowledge a particular realitydates back to a legendary chapter in the career of the British naval hero Horatio Nelson. Some convey the idea of getting used to a new situation or getting used to your role in that new situation. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/get+the+hang+of+it. A cigarette hung from her lips. | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples To save this word, you'll need to log in. We can't use the simple present tense with this expression. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Modern English speakers use the phrase crocodile tears to describe a display of superficial or false sorrow, but the saying actually derives from a medieval belief that crocodiles shed tears of sadness while they killed and consumed their prey. De- comes from Latin, too. to be suspended; dangle. Public executions by hanging were quite a spectacle in the good old days. get the hang of something ngha, nh ngha, get the hang of something l g: 1. to learn how to do something, especially if it is not obvious or simple: 2. to learn how to do. The phrase "turn a blind eye"often used to refer to a willful refusal to acknowledge a particular realitydates back to a legendary chapter in the career of the British naval hero Horatio Nelson.. To get the hang of something means to become familiar with it. The law was later put to the test in 1819 during the infamous Peterloo Massacre, in which a cavalry unit attacked a large group of protestors after they appeared to ignore a reading of the Riot Act. pulling the trigger, the flint striking, the gunpowder lighting, to acquire complete knowledge, understanding, or skill in, Post more words for get the hang of to Facebook, Share more words for get the hang of on Twitter. sentences. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ). I know it's a little tricky getting the hang of the machine, but just keep practicing and you'll get it. [intransitive, transitive] to bend or let something bend downwards hang adv./prep. hung out to dry on a clothesline. I think Thorzdad and hungrysquirrels are close. to swing freely, as on a hinge. The humanitarian thing was to let the person's neck break; this caused a quick death. Meanwhile, the much less desirable by, or full and by, meant the vessel was traveling into the wind. Also, if we use it in the negative,its very common touse the word never. I'm starting to get the hang of how this computer works. Hang by a thread. 1. verb If something hangs in a high place or position, or if you hang it there, it is attached there so it does not touch the ground. get the hang of doing [sth] v expr. get the hang of something ( informal) learn or begin to understand how to do, use, etc. Victorious athletes at the ancient Pythian Games received wreaths made of laurel branches, and the Romans later adopted the practice and presented wreaths to generals who won important battles. what is the origin of the lovebug? example. "getting the hang of it" means getting used to performing a get the hang. Delivered to your inbox! A dependable person would, talent. Example Sentences 2023. When a person is hung, the moment after the drop where the rope snaps tight either breaks the person's neck or it doesn't. The humanitarian thing was to let the person's neck break; this caused a quick death. Languagehat: it was the finality of your tone that made me say "wait a second", that's all, because I thought the subject sounded too-firmly closed there. Still yet another theory suggests the phrase was actually born out of the brothels of the American West, and referred to men behaving as though their whole town were a red-light district. I sensed that this one might be more slippery than some, that's all. I got the hang of driving a car I got the hang of life in the Far East I don't think that, in BE, the phrase is used very often of people, but here it clearly means that the person speaking doesn't feel familiar enough with the people in the case to have a suspect. slacking rope), Continue Learning about English Language Arts. U.S. One theory argues the phrase relates to the various degrees of murder in the criminal code; yet another credits it to Thomas F. Byrnes, a 19th-century New York City policeman who used the pun Third Degree Byrnes when describing his hardnosed questioning style. I'm starting to get the hang of how this computer works. The phrase later became even more popular after 1811s Battle of Albuera during the Napoleonic Wars. In Hellenic times, laurel leaves were closely tied to Apollo, the god of music, prophecy and poetry. It took him a long time to get the hang of all the irregular verbs. But in 18th-century England, the Riot Act was a very real document, and it was often recited aloud to angry mobs. See also: get, hang, of, something Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary Farlex 2017 See also: To begin having or acquire a general sense of how to do or use something or how something operates; to become familiar with something. (orig. hang Examples from the Corpus get the hang of something I increasingly got the hang of handling Berni. Change). The myth dates back as far as the 14th century and comes from a book called The Travels of Sir John Mandeville. Wildly popular upon its release, the tome recounts a brave knights adventures during his supposed travels through Asia. Like "learning the ropes"? People, read the OED entry quoted above: it originally meant "to become familiar with the proper wielding or use of a tool." We cant use the simple present tense with this expression. get the knack. However, if we use the present continuous, we don't use the word "never". "getting the hang of it" means getting used to performing a specific task. Many everyday phrases are nautical in origin taken aback, loose cannon and high and dry all originated at seabut perhaps the most surprising example is the common saying by and large. As far back as the 16th century, the word large was used to mean that a ship was sailing with the wind at its back. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. The fascinating story behind many people's favori Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz! : Public executions by hanging were quite a spectacle in the good old days. get the hang of something phrase informal C2 to learn how to do something, especially if it is not obvious or simple: "I've never used this program before." "Don't worry - you'll soon get the hang of it." I had never sailed a boat before but by the third day, I was getting the hang of it. getting the hang. Get a report of the VfL Bochum vs. Borussia Dortmund 2022-23 German Bundesliga football match. it?" Kids and adult newbies to the hoverboard world will appreciate the Razor Hovertrax Prizmas training setting, allowing riders to, Luckily, skin cycling is a pretty easy process to, After some practice, Brolin, who's married to legendary singer Barbra Streisand, started to, And while these mystery relatives have (presumably) never spent much time in front of a camera, most of them, But Computer Space proved too complex for tipsy patrons to, Judging from one photo, Pea is going to need to study some tape of his predecessor to really, With the latest surge of Covid-19 raging, now may be the ideal time to, Post the Definition of get the hang of to Facebook, Share the Definition of get the hang of on Twitter. Tm hiu thm. Privacy Policy. get it. From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English get the hang of something get the hang of something informal LEARN to learn how to do something or use something It seems difficult at first, but you'll soon get the hang of it. getting used. Send us feedback about these examples. ability. aiim, because of the 'hang' of the gun. Russia threatned to place Nuclear weapons in Cuba, and America was very afraid because we are very close to Cuba. I was born December18,1963When would I graduate high school? Once you get the hang of it, reading a good play can be a delightful and challenging experience. When his more conservative superior officer flagged for him to withdraw, the one-eyed Nelson supposedly brought his telescope to his bad eye and blithely proclaimed, I really do not see the signal. He went on to score a decisive victory.
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