What does "hang back" mean?

To wait; to falter; to avoid proceeding through reluctance.

What is a synonym for "hang back"?

Common synonyms include: avoid, back down, balance, balk, be dilatory, blench.

Hang back

verb, slang

verb, slang ·Moderate ·High school level

Definitions

Verb

1
To wait; to falter; to avoid proceeding through reluctance. informal
"From this one poor hunt, then, the best lance out of all Nantucket, surely he will not hang back, when every foremast-hand has clutched a whetstone?"
2
to lag or linger behind wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms

avoid back down balance balk be dilatory blench

Example

More examples

"From this one poor hunt, then, the best lance out of all Nantucket, surely he will not hang back, when every foremast-hand has clutched a whetstone?"

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