I. bang 1 S3 /bæŋ/ BrE AmE 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. bang 2 S3 BrE AmE verb
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: Probably from a Scandinavian language ]
1 . [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 ↑ drum 1 (4), ⇨ bang sb’s heads together at ↑ head 1 (32), ⇨ be (like) banging your head against a brick wall at ↑ head 1 (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. bang 3 BrE AmE 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.
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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.
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Can you tell us precisely where he is?
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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.
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He and his brother are just the same.
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The hotel is just next to the station.
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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!
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There’s the house, right in front of you.
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I got a mosquito bite right on the end of my nose.
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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.
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The shot was bang on target.
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Cockatoo Island is right bang in the middle of Sydney harbour.
IV. bang 4 BrE AmE interjection
used to make a sound like a gun or bomb:
Bang bang, you’re dead!