Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a general excl.; see also hang it (all)! under hang v.¹ ; hang me! under hang v.¹

1540		D. Lyndsay Satyre of Thrie Estaits IV vii: Now Walloway! I mon be hangit!
c.1597		Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor II i: Hang the trifle, woman; take the honour.
1606		Wily Beguiled 32: Hang him, that has no shifts.
1612		N. Field Woman is a Weathercock III iii: Hang her, she’s but a bauble.
1626		Jonson Staple of News II i: Hang thee, dog!
1633		Ford ’Tis Pity She’s a Whore III i: Hang him, old doting rascal. No, I say I will have her.
1640		T. Rawlins Rebellion IV i: Hang Chastity.
1655		J. Cotgrave ‘A Rapture’ Wits Interpreter (1671) 230: No, hang a Mistress, I’le have none, No such toy to dote upon.
1664		Etherege Love In A Tub I ii: Hang Reputation amongst a company of Rascals.
1672		‘Song’ Covent Garden Drollery 63: Hang the trade of versifying, Tis lying.
1695		Congreve Love for Love I i: Hang him, he has nothing but the Seasons and Twelve Caesars, paltry copies.
1701		Cibber Love Makes a Man IV i: du.: But, pray Sir, were you as intimate at both Play-houses? clo.: No, stretch ’em!
1707		Humours of a Coffee-House 25 June 5: Hang all Sorrow, or rather Drown it I say.
1713		Swift ‘Catullus de Lesbia’ in Chalmers Eng. Poets XI (1810) 390/2: I curse her every hour sincerely, / Yet, hang me but I love her dearly.
1722		S. Centlivre Artifice Act II: Hang the Cork.
1730		J. Miller Humours of Oxford I i: Hang Fortune, I say – Trash – mere Dirt.
1753		Richardson Sir Charles Grandison (1812) I 32: ‘Think not of tea,’ said she. ‘Hang tea,’ said Mr. Reeves.
1775		Sheridan Rivals (1776) III i: Hang your respect and duty.
1798		T. Morton Speed the Plough II iv: Come, Dame, hang the rheumatics!
1819		W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor 367: Hang long stories, give us your toast, man.
1822		‘A. Burton’ My Cousin in the Army 93: Hang all the sex! for women bring To men all sorts of suffering.
1828		R.M. Bird City Looking Glass I iii: Hang you, imp.
1839		Comic Almanack Mar. 170: ‘Stop!’ says Bunting (hang him!).
1842		S. Lover Handy Andy 94: Oh! hang business today.
1859		E. Eden Semi-Detached House (1979) 152: Oh, hang the bills, I don’t grudge them a little finery.
1861		(con. 1840s–50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor (1968) III 10/1: If you don’t give them good stuff, they’ll eat one another, hang ’em!
1877		‘A High Private’ Man who was not a Colonel 91: ‘Hang stocks!’ exclaimed Jonas.
1885		Queensland Sentinel (Vic.) 14 Mar. 3/7: I’ll pay the tailor to cut it down so that it will fit. Hang the expense.
1886		M.E. Braddon Mohawks III 247: ‘O, hang music!’ cried Miss Vansittart.
1896		G.M. Fenn Sappers and Miners 210: ‘Oh, hang the dog!’ cried Gwyn, desperately.
1902		A. Bennett Grand Babylon Hotel 165: ‘Hang the Chilean Government, Mr Levi,’ exclaimed the Prince.
1911		Gem 23 Sept. 7: Hang you! No!
1922		E. Raymond Tell England (1965) 28: An hour’s sweat with Radley. Oh, hang! Blow! Damn!
1930		Gippsland Times (Vic.) 4 Mar. n.p.: Hang! The peace crank was going strong.
1950		C. Harris Three-Ha’Pence to the Angel 22: Hang that for a tale!
1951		D. Stivens Jimmy Brockett 9: By hang, brother! [Ibid.] 212: Hang the expense, I’d said to her, give young Jimmy a party every day of the week if you like!
1960		N. Hilliard Maori Girl 56: ‘Hang the breakfast,’ she thought.
1999		K. Sampson Powder 443: But . . . hang! I’m being stoopid, right? You know how it is.