bang

bang¹

noun

1》 a sudden loud, sharp noise.

    ↘a sudden painful blow.

2》 (bangs) N. Amer. a fringe of hair cut straight across the forehead.

3》 Computing, chiefly N. Amer. the character ‘!’.

verb

1》 strike or put down forcefully and noisily.

    ↘make or cause to make a sudden loud noise.

2》 vulgar slang (of a man) have sex with.

adverb informal, chiefly Brit. exactly: the train arrived bang on time.

Phrases

bang for one's (or the) buck N. Amer. informal value for money.

bang goes something informal a plan or hope is suddenly or completely destroyed.

bang on Brit. informal exactly right.

get a bang out of N. Amer. informal derive excitement or pleasure from.

with a bang

1》 abruptly.

2》 impressively.

Phrasal verbs

bang away at informal do persistently or doggedly.

bang on about Brit. informal talk at tedious length about.

bang something out informal

1》 play music noisily and unskilfully.

2》 produce something hurriedly or in great quantities.

bang someone up Brit. informal imprison someone.

Origin

C16: imitative, perh. of Scand. origin.

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bang² [baŋ]

noun variant spelling of bhang.