Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

I came across the street to meet you

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

The bridge came across the river

Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

She comes across as very confident in interviews

He came across the finish line first

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

The bus will come by this route

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

I come by the office every morning at 8

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Can you come by my house later for coffee?

The train came by the station too fast

She comes by the grocery store home

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The new iPhone will come out next month

I need to come out from the house now

The new iPhone will come out next month

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The truth finally came out after the investigation

The students came out to the classroom

Understanding the Phrasal Verb 'Hang Up'

"When life burdens you with worries, learn to hang up your doubts and find peace within the silence."

📖 Definition

To end a telephone call by breaking the connection. It can also mean to end an engagement or give up on a task or goal.

Examples in context

After discussing the project, John decided to hang up and review the points later.
Maria hung up the phone with a sense of relief after the stressful conversation.
They are hanging up their jackets as they arrive at the meeting place.

📖 Definition

To end a telephone call by breaking the connection. It can also mean to end an engagement or give up on a task or goal.

📝 Grammar Info

Separable

Yes

The object can be placed between 'hang' and 'up' or after 'up'.

Neutral

Used in both formal and informal contexts.

Transitive

Yes

Requires a direct object indicating what is being hung up.

📊 Conjugation Table

Tense	Form	Example
Present Simple	hang up	I often hang up before the voicemail starts.
Past Simple	hung up	She hung up abruptly when she heard the news.
Present Continuous	hanging up	He's hanging up the phone after the argument.
Present Perfect	have hung up	We have hung up our coats at the entrance.

💡 When to Use

Ending a call

Use when you want to describe the action of ending a phone call.

Example: "He decided to hang up after waiting too long on hold."

Giving up a task

Use when describing the decision to stop pursuing a goal or task.

Example: "She hung up her hopes of becoming an actor."

Closure in conversations

Use when discussing metaphorical actions of ending a dialogue or subject.

Example: "Let's hang up this topic for a while and take a break."

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Incorrect placement of object

❌ Wrong: He hung up it.

✅ Correct: He hung it up.

💡 Tip: Place the object between 'hang' and 'up' if not using 'up' immediately.

Confusing with 'give up'

❌ Wrong: She decided to hang up on math.

✅ Correct: She decided to give up on math.

💡 Tip: 'Hang up' often involves ending a call; 'give up' suits broader contexts.

Mixing tenses

❌ Wrong: I hanged up the phone.

✅ Correct: I hung up the phone.

💡 Tip: Use 'hung' as the past tense of 'hang up'.

Practice

HANG UP - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Listen and repeat the audio as many times as needed to improve your pronunciation
Use the audio as a dictation exercise, trying to write what you hear and understand
Create a new sentence following the structure of the example sentences

Examples in Context

1
Listen to example

After discussing the project, John decided to hang up and review the points later.
The Global Village
2
Listen to example

Maria hung up the phone with a sense of relief after the stressful conversation.
The Global Village
3
Listen to example

They are hanging up their jackets as they arrive at the meeting place.
The Global Village

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

end call terminate

Antonyms

answer

Quick Check

Complete the sentence with the correct phrasal verb:

"After a long wait on hold, I decided to ___ the call."

lift up

hang up

stand up

pick up

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Hang Up

What is the origin of hang up?

The origin traces back to early telephony when receivers were physically hung up on a hook after a call. 'Hang up' then metaphorically extended to concluding tasks or engagements.

Can hang up be used in formal and informal contexts?

Yes, 'hang up' can be used in both contexts. In formal settings, it describes ending calls professionally; informally, it extends metaphorically to giving up tasks.

What is the difference between hang up and end call?

'Hang up' implies physically ending the call or engagement, often abruptly, while 'end call' is a more general term for disconnecting, used both in digital and analog contexts.

Browse All The Global Village Phrasal Verbs

About the Author

Alessandra Nóbrega

History teacher who fell in love with English! This passion led me to specialize in languages and work on bilingual education projects. With 37 years in education, I believe learning should be meaningful – not just memorization.

Learn more about my journey

📖 Definition

📖 Definition

📝 Grammar Info

📊 Conjugation Table

💡 When to Use

⚠️ Common Mistakes

HANG UP - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Examples in Context

Synonyms & Antonyms

Quick Check

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Hang Up

Related Phrasal Verbs

Alessandra Nóbrega