It's funny but when I was about in my teens, I did wonder why we say hangout whenever we go to mamak or went clubbing. I always assumed that we say 'hangout' meaning we 'let go' or let things 'hang' but I was wrong.
Apparently, here's what it means.
In the early days when the English Language was still developing, it seems that a business place is called a hangout. (Ack!) If you have a grocery shop, that's your hangout. But it is restricted to mean that it's a place where you run or own a business. If you work in an advertising firm, that's NOT your hangout, that's your torture palace!
It seems that the term originated from a time when they didn't have the large signboards that we have today. Last time, they literally HANG OUT a sign in front of the door to indicate that they have a business there. As in "Ah Kow Barber" or "Que Que Massage Parlor". Hence, back in the oldern days, they usually ask each other, "So! Where you hang out your sign ah?"
When asked what’s my one single favorite thing to do in the world, I would usually name a whole list of things that I love to do when my work is not screaming at me. Something that takes my mind COMPLETELY off of everyday tasks and relaxes me. Take a guess what it is…. If you say ‘ reading ’, yes, I love reading (especially soppy love stories with lots of sex scenes, please. Hee hee hee ….) and I also love mystery novels but it’s not the first on the list. If you say ‘ playing the piano ’; yes, I love playing the piano. Creating forms a huge part of my life and whenever I play the piano (as inept at it as I am), there’s this tiny little girl inside of me jumping up and down with glee, clapping her hands. It’s my childhood dream to be able to play the piano! And thumping on the keys gives me a sense of satisfaction when I hear the music. If you say ‘ writing ’; You’ve got to be kidding me! You mean I don’t write enough as it is? Case closed. If you say ‘ playing with my kids ’; Yea...
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