hanging on his every word

Definitions

• pay close attention
  To listen to someone very carefully and eagerly, often because they are very interesting or important

• admiration
  To be completely captivated and influenced by someone's speech or ideas

Examples of hanging on his every word

• Sarah was hanging on John's every word during their job interview. She listened intently to his instructions and responded thoughtfully, trying to make a great impression.

  In this example, Sarah is showing extreme attentiveness and interest in what John is saying. The phrase "hanging on his every word" implies that Sarah is eagerly absorbing every detail of John's speech and responding in a way that shows she understands and respects his authority. By hanging on his every word, Sarah is demonstrating her commitment to learning and growing in her job and showing John that she is a diligent and attentive employee.

• During the concert, the crowd was hanging on the lead singer's every word. They sang along to every song, cheering and clapping in between.

  In this example, the crowd is showing extreme enthusiasm and engagement during the concert. The phrase "hanging on his every word" indicates that the crowd is completely absorbed in the lead singer's performance, singing along with every lyric and responding enthusiastically to his every movement and expression. By hanging on his every word, the crowd is demonstrating their admiration for the lead singer and their commitment to enjoying the concert to the fullest.

• My grandmother's stories always leave me hanging on her every word. She has such a rich and fascinating history that I never tire of hearing about her childhood and her travels around the world.

  In this example, the narrator is showing extreme interest and attention when listening to their grandmother's stories. The phrase "hanging on her every word" implies that the narrator is completely absorbed in their grandmother's tales, hanging on to every detail and reveling in the richness and complexity of her history. By hanging on her every word, the narrator is demonstrating their respect and admiration for their grandmother's experiences and their commitment to learning and growing through her words.

• As the speaker began their presentation, the audience hung on every word, eager to learn more about the topic at hand. They listened carefully, taking notes and asking questions at the end.

  In this example, the audience is showing extreme interest and engagement during the presentation. The phrase "hanging on his every word" indicates that the audience is completely absorbed in the speaker's message, listening carefully and taking notes as they absorb each detail. By hanging on his every word, the audience is demonstrating their respect for the speaker's expertise and their commitment to learning more about the topic at hand.

• The student hung on the professor's every word during the lecture, eagerly jotting down notes to remember all the important details.

  In this example, "hanging on his every word" is used to describe the student's attentiveness and eagerness to listen and learn from the professor during the lecture. The phrase implies that the student is paying very close attention to every single word the professor says, waiting to hear more information and ideas.

• After hearing about the incredible success of the company's new product, the investors hung on the CEO's every word as he presented a detailed plan for future growth and expansion.

  In this example, "hanging on his every word" is used to describe the investors' intense interest and attention as the CEO presented his plan. The investors were eager to hear all the details of the company's future plans, and the phrase implies that they were hanging on every word in the hope of learning as much as possible about the company's future prospects.

• The reporter hung on the politician's every word as he spoke passionately about his vision for the country's future, eager to capture every detail in her notes.

  In this example, "hanging on his every word" is used to describe the reporter's attention and focus as the politician spoke. The phrase implies that the reporter was fully engaged in listening to the politician's ideas and message, and that she was committed to accurately reporting every detail of what he said.

• The musician's fans hung on every note as he played his heart out on stage, adding their own cheers and claps to the performance.

  In this example, "hanging on every note" is used to describe the fans' engagement and enjoyment of the musician's performance. The phrase implies that the fans were fully immersed in the music and were hanging on every note, eager to experience its full beauty and power.

Conclusion

The idiom "hanging on his every word" is used to describe the act of paying close and eager attention to someone's speech or ideas. It can also convey a sense of admiration and being completely captivated by the person speaking. This idiom is often used to emphasize the impact and influence of the person's words on the listener.

Origin of "hanging on his every word"

The origin of the idiom "hanging on his every word" can be traced back to the idea of being physically suspended or hanging in mid-air while listening to someone. This imagery conveys the intensity and focus of the listener's attention. The idiom likely evolved from the concept of being so engrossed in someone's words that it feels like being suspended in the air, unable to move or do anything else. Over time, it has become a common phrase used to emphasize the attentive and admiring nature of listening to someone's words.

Examples of this idiom can be found in literature and everyday conversations, highlighting the universal experience of being completely captivated by someone's speech or ideas.