bang

bang

I

bang¹ S3 /bæŋ/ noun
1. [countable] 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. [countable] a painful blow to the body when you hit against something or something hits you
   SYN  bump:
    a bang on the head
3. bangs [plural] American English hair cut straight across your forehead
   SYN  fringe British English
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 something American English spoken to enjoy something very much
⇨ big bang theory

II

bang² S3 verb1. [intransitive and transitive] to hit something hard, making a loud noise
    bang on
    Stop banging on the door!
    bang your fist/hand on something
    She banged her fist on the table.
    The baby kept banging the table with his spoon.
2. [transitive] to put something down or against something with a lot of force, making a loud noise
    bang something down
    She banged the phone down.
    bang something on/against something
    He banged a teapot on the table.
3. [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive] to close something violently, making a loud noise, or to be closed in this way
   SYN  slam:
    I ran out, banging the door behind me.
    The window banged shut.
4. [transitive] to hit a part of your body, or something you are carrying, against something by accident
   SYN  bump
    bang something on something
    I fell and banged my head on the pavement.
5. [intransitive] to make a loud noise or loud noises:
    The gate keeps banging in the wind.
6. [transitive] not polite to have sex with someone
⇨ bang the drum for somebody/something 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 phrasal verb
  to move around a place, making a lot of noise:
    We could hear them banging about upstairs.
bang on phrasal verb British English
  informal to talk continuously about something in a boring way
   SYN  go on
    bang on about
    I wish he wouldn’t keep banging on about politics.
bang something ↔ out phrasal verb informal
  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 somebody/something ↔ up phrasal verb informal
  1. British English to put someone in prison
  2. American English to seriously damage something:
    a banged-up old Buick

III

bang³ adverb
1. informal directly or exactly:
    The train arrived bang on time.
    The technology is bang up to date.
2. bang on British English spoken exactly correct:
    ‘Is that right?’ ‘Bang on!’
3. bang goes something British English 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
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ exactly used when emphasizing that something is no more and no less than a number or amount, or is completely correct in every detail: The bill came to exactly $1,000. | Police are still trying to find out exactly how the accident happened.
   ▪ precisely exactly – used when it is important to be sure that something is completely correct in every detail: We need to know precisely how much this is going to cost. | Can you tell us precisely where he is? | What precisely do you mean by ‘relativity’?
   ▪ just especially spoken exactly – used especially when saying that things are exactly right, exactly the same, or exactly in a particular position: The frame is just the right size for the picture. | He and his brother are just the same. | The hotel is just next to the station. | A new handbag! That’s just what I wanted.
   ▪ right exactly in a particular position or direction: The ball hit me right in the eye! | There’s the house, right in front of you. | I got a mosquito bite right on the end of my nose. | He sat down right beside her.
   ▪ directly exactly in a particular position or direction Directly is more formal than right: Amy was sitting directly opposite me.
   ▪ on the dot informal at exactly a particular time, and no earlier or later than that time: She always leaves the office at 5.30 p.m. on the dot.
   ▪ bang British English informal exactly – used especially in the following very informal expressions: The train was bang on time. | The shot was bang on target. | Cockatoo Island is right bang in the middle of Sydney harbour.

IV

bang⁴ interjection
used to make a sound like a gun or bomb:
    Bang bang, you’re dead!