Definitions

1. noun

a situation in which something is delayed or postponed, especially due to circumstances beyond one’s control.

“The project’s deadline was put back due to a hangfire in the supply chain.”

2. verb

to cause something to be delayed or postponed, especially due to circumstances beyond one’s control.

“The bad weather will hangfire the flight, and it might leave tomorrow instead.”

3. verb

to delay or postpone the start of something, especially due to circumstances beyond one’s control.

“The new policy was meant to start immediately, but it got hung fire due to bureaucratic delays.”