Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.
Hang on every word
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The most appropriate meaning of the idiom "hang on every word" is to listen very carefully.
The other options are incorrect.
- "Speak very slowly" is not the same as hang on every word. Speaking very slowly can be a way of listening carefully, but it is not the same thing.
- "Stop after hearing one word" is not the same as hang on every word. Stopping after hearing one word is not listening carefully.
- "Stammer while speaking" is not the same as hang on every word. Stammering while speaking can be a sign of nervousness, but it is not the same thing as listening carefully.
The idiom "hang on every word" comes from the idea of hanging on to something very tightly. So, when someone is said to be hanging on someone's every word, it means that they are listening very carefully to everything that the person is saying. For example, you might say "I was hanging on her every word when she told me about her new job."