“Many young men were ___ at street corners for the coffee bar to open.”

"Many young men were ___ at street corners for the coffee bar to open."
Answer: "Hanging about"

"The sentence “Many young men were hanging about at street corners for the coffee bar to open” uses the phrasal verb “hanging about” to mean loitering or waiting casually. Phrasal verbs add idiomatic richness to English reflecting informal usage. Correct verb choice ensures natural and precise communication particularly in descriptive or narrative writing where capturing social behavior enhances authenticity and engagement in the text."