Also: Hang one’s head in shame
Meaning of Idiom ‘Hang One’s Head’
To hang (your, his, her) head means to express shame, contrition, or embarrassment; to appear embarrassed or ashamed. 1Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.,2Kirkpatrick, Elizabeth M. The Wordsworth Dictionary of Idioms. Ware: Wordsworth, 1995.
Examples Of Use
“Nobody should be hanging their head,” said the coach. “We’re all winners here.”
“The student hung his head in shame after failing the quiz.”
Origin
Used since the 1200s, this idiom alludes to physically lowering one’s head as an expression of embarrassment, shame, contrition, or remorse.
25 Body Parts Idioms | Idioms Online Video
Want to see more videos from Idioms.Online? Subscribe to our YouTube channel!
More Idioms Starting with H
More Body Part Idioms
- Armed to the Teeth
- Elbow Grease
- Elbow Room
- Blow Smoke Up Someone’s Ass
- Give Your Right Arm (for something)
- Give Your Eye Teeth (for something)
More Hang Idioms
More Head Idioms
- Hard-Headed
- Running Around Like a Chicken With its Head Cut Off
- Off the Top Of My Head
- Hit the Nail On the Head
- Head Of The Class
- Go To Someone’s Head
- Enter One’s Head
This page contains one or more affiliate links. See full affiliate disclosure.
Sources
| 1. | ↲ | Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013. |
| 2. | ↲ | Kirkpatrick, Elizabeth M. The Wordsworth Dictionary of Idioms. Ware: Wordsworth, 1995. |