straphang

To ride public transport while standing and holding onto a strap.

Verb

  1. To ride public transport while standing and holding onto a strap.
    • Instead of having people coming from the outskirts, straphanging in omnibuses and trains, working in the centre under congested conditions in badly lit, insanitary buildings[…] - 1932, Great Britain, Parliamentary...
    • Unheeding the conductor's warning glare, Mr. Devine straphung, smiling, his lips forming soundless phrases as though he enjoyed a delightful, inaudible conversation. - 1957, Brian Moore, The Feast of Lupercal:
    • He straphung for five stops, pressed on three sides by a young Rastafarian wearing a green-suede pillbox hat, an elderly, tiny Chinese couple, and a coffee-coloured nurse who was literally asleep on her feet. - 1989,...

Origin

From strap + hang.

Forms

straphangs straphanging straphung strap-hang

Related

straphanger