From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishhinge on/upon something phrasal verbDEPEND/IT DEPENDSif a result hinges on something, it depends on it completely His political future hinges on the outcome of this election. The case against him hinged on Lewis’s evidence. → hinge→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
hinge on/upon • But the long-term movement of stock prices will hinge on follow-up actions by the Cabinet and the Legislative Yuan.• She tried to guess what he might have found out about Sabine Jourdain that did not hinge on her death.• Much may hinge upon points that the typical executive might understandably regard as irritating technicalities.• Their dispute there hinged on the right to collect customs duties, a matter left unclear in the Fontainebleau agreement.• The debate should not, however, centre on cost, but should hinge on the ultimate benefit to the nation.• The northern legislative position essentially hinged on the unfairness of increasing proslavery representation in Congress under the terms of the Three-fifths Compromise.• In candid interviews, representatives said a settlement hinges on these issues: Staffing levels.• The show hinges on this excruciating balance, hanging on Pennington's earnest performance. 