bang

bang¹ S3 [bæŋ] n

1.)

a sudden loud noise caused by something such as a gun or an object hitting a hard surface

▪ There was a loud bang outside the kitchen door.

2.)

a painful blow to the body when you hit against something or something hits you

= ↑bump

▪ a bang on the head

3.) bangs [plural] AmE

hair cut straight across your forehead

British Equivalent: fringe

4.) with a bang

in a very successful way

▪ Stock markets started the year with a bang.

5.) (get) a bigger/better etc bang for your buck informal

something that gives you a good effect or a lot of value for the effort or money you spend on it

▪ Are taxpayers getting enough bang for their buck?

6.) get a bang out of sth

AmE spoken to enjoy something very much

→↑big bang theory

bang ²

bang² v

[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: Probably from a Scandinavian language]

1.) [I and T]

to hit something hard, making a loud noise

bang on

▪ They were banging on the door with their fists.

bang your fist/hand on sth

▪ She banged her fist on the table.

▪ The baby kept banging the table with his spoon.

2.) [T]

to put something down or against something with a lot of force, making a loud noise

bang sth down

▪ She banged the phone down hard.

bang sth on/against sth

▪ He banged a teapot and some cups on the table.

3.) [I always + adverb/preposition, T]

to close something violently, making a loud noise, or to be closed in this way

= ↑slam

▪ I ran out, banging the door behind me.

▪ The window banged shut .

4.) [T]

to hit a part of your body or something you are carrying against something, by accident

= ↑bump bang sth on sth

▪ I fell and banged my head on the pavement.

5.)

to make a loud noise or noises

▪ The gate keeps banging in the wind.

6.) [T] [i]not polite to have sex with someone

→bang the drum for sb/sth at ↑drum¹ (4), bang sb's heads together at ↑head¹ (32)

→be (like) banging your head against a brick wall at ↑head¹ (31)

bang about/around phr v

to move around a place, making a lot of noise

▪ We could hear them banging about upstairs.

bang on phr v informal to talk continuously about something in a boring way

= ↑go on bang on about

▪ I wish he wouldn't keep banging on about politics.

bang out [bang sth<=>out] phr v

1.) to play a tune or song loudly and badly on a piano

2.) to write something in a hurry, especially using a ↑keyboard

bang up [bang sb/sth<=>up] phr v

1.) BrE to put someone in prison

2.) AmE to seriously damage something

▪ a banged-up old Buick

bang ³

bang³ adv

1.) informal directly or exactly

▪ The train arrived bang on time .

▪ The technology is elaborate, expensive, and bang up to date .

2.) bang on

BrE spoken exactly correct

▪ 'Is that right?' 'Bang on!'

3.) bang goes sth

BrE spoken used to show that you are unhappy because something you had hoped for will not happen

▪ Bang goes my brilliant plan.

4.) spoken in a sudden violent way

▪ I skidded and went bang into the wall.

5.) go bang informal

to explode or burst with a loud noise

bang ⁴

bang⁴ interjection

used to make a sound like a gun or bomb

▪ Bang bang, you're dead!