bang up
C1Informal (damage); Very informal/slang (excellent); Prison slang (lock up).
Definition
Meaning
to damage or dent something, typically a vehicle; (as adjective) excellent, first-rate.
Used to describe physical damage from impact; colloquially describes something as impressive or of high quality; in prison slang, to lock someone in a cell.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The sense 'excellent' is primarily British, informal, and somewhat dated. The 'damage' sense is more widely understood but still informal. The 'lock up' sense is niche.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The adjective meaning 'excellent' (That's bang up!) is chiefly British slang. The verb meaning 'to damage' is understood in both but more common in UK. The prison sense 'to lock up' is used in both but is institutional.
Connotations
UK: Strongly positive when adjectival; casual for damage. US: The adjectival sense is rare and may not be understood; the damage sense is informal and understood.
Frequency
In UK: 'bang-up job' (excellent work) is a known phrase. In US: 'He banged up his car' is the primary, widely understood usage.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] bang up [Object] (e.g., I banged up the door)[Subject] get banged up (passive-like, e.g., He got banged up in the accident)It's a bang-up [Noun] (e.g., a bang-up job)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bang-up job”
- “banged up but not beaten”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in very informal praise: 'He did a bang-up job on the presentation.'
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Common for discussing minor vehicle damage or casual praise (UK).
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I'm afraid I've banged up the rental car on a narrow lane.
- The goalkeeper banged up his shoulder during the match.
American English
- He banged up his new truck backing into a post.
- The hailstorm really banged up the roof of the house.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; adjective used attributively) 'A bang-up job'.
- The team performed bang-up (non-standard).
American English
- (Not used)
adjective
British English
- The caterers did a bang-up job with the wedding breakfast.
- That's a bang-up idea for the fundraiser!
American English
- (Rare, understood in context) She did a bang-up job organizing the conference.
- (Often seen as a Britishism)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He banged up his bicycle when he fell.
- The car door is a bit banged up.
- I managed to bang up the bumper while parallel parking.
- The old suitcase was banged up but still functional.
- Despite banging up his knee in the first half, he played on brilliantly.
- The critic said the theatre company gave a bang-up performance of the classic play.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the BANG sound of a collision, resulting in something being UPset or damaged. For the positive sense, imagine someone banging a gavel to signify a job well done.
Conceptual Metaphor
PHYSICAL IMPACT IS DAMAGE (verb) / INTENSITY IS QUALITY (adjective).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'to bang' meaning 'to have sex' (vulgar). The phrasal verb 'bang up' does not carry that meaning. The adjective 'bang-up' has no direct Russian equivalent and is culturally specific slang.
Common Mistakes
- Using the positive adjective sense in formal contexts. Confusing 'bang up' (damage) with 'beat up' (assault). Overusing the positive sense outside of UK/informal settings.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'bang up' MOST likely to mean 'excellent'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered informal or slang. Use 'excellent', 'superb', or 'first-rate' instead.
No, it can refer to any object or even a person (e.g., 'He got banged up in the fight'), meaning bruised or injured.
Many would, due to exposure through media, but it is recognized as a British or old-fashioned phrase. 'Great job' or 'awesome job' is more natural in US English.
'Bang up' usually implies less severe, often superficial damage (dents, bruises). 'Smash up' implies more serious, destructive damage.