tāngāngā
1. (verb) to be loose, not tight.
Tēnā ko te hopu a te ringa whero, e kore e tāngāngā, tēnā ko te hopu a te ringa iti, he aha te huanga? (NP 2001:378). / There is the grasp of a chief which cannot be loosened, but the grasp of a nobody, what use is it? (A whakataukī suggesting it is better to deal with someone of mana to ensure success.)
Synonyms: ngoru, tangatanga, tatere, tāreparepa, moepuku, mātangatanga, korokoro, tāngengangenga, tāwēwē, kaewa, hāngengangenga, hūngorungoru, tangara, tangoro, tītengi
