"Hanging the latch'

[AnOwlAtAJubilee]

Not sure if this is in the right place, but I thought Pedants' Corner would reach the people interested in words and phrases.

Have you ever come across the phrase above? It was used by my parents but I think came from my mother rather than father. She was brought up on the Wirral, dad was from Kent.

I (and other family members) have tried and failed to find it used anywhere other than our family but it struck me that this would be a good wide pool of people to ask.

For me it means dithering about, trying to put off what you should be doing - usually as a child related to going to bed...

"What are you doing still down here?"
"I just wanted a glass of water."
"Stop hanging the latch and get to bed!"

Have you ever heard it? And if not, would you be able to take a guess at its meaning? I suppose in context as above it's reasonably clear.

I was brought up on the London/Kent border and have never heard it.

I am from the east of England and I haven't heard it, but I like it.

It reminds me of a book, probably 'Worzel Gummidge', where the children knew that if they ate their supper very quietly in the farm kitchen the adults might not notice that they were still up.

I know the term 'hanging fire', meaning pausing.

Thanks both! I am beginning to suspect it's just us!

Bumping for the evening crowd (if Pedants'Corner gets an evening crowd?)

I have always lived in Kent but have never heard of this expression.

The nearest to it, I think, must be 'stop hanging about' , (delaying tactics) .

My mum was brought up in the Wirral too (and dad's family from London/Surrey border) but I haven't come across this phrase!

Thanks everyone; it does sound like it's a family thing then, unless anyone else is going to pop up who knows it!

I’m from Liverpool and that is definitely an expression we use! In fact I just told my husband to ‘stop hanging the latch’ as he was being too slow and he looked at me like I was mad! (He’s from Manchester)!!

Oh wow, thank you so much for replying. It's brilliant to hear someone else uses it!

Pinning it down to Liverpool is really helpful too.

Thanks!