hang a leg

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hang a leg (third-person singular simple present hangs a leg, present participle hanging a leg, simple past and past participle hung a leg)

1. (idiomatic) To hesitate; to hang back.
   • 1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:

     You have your hands on thousands, you fools, and you hang a leg! You'd be as rich as kings if you could find it, and you know it's here, and you stand there skulking.