bung
C1Informal, Technical (cooperage)
Definition
Meaning
A stopper for closing a hole in a container, especially a cask or barrel.
To close or seal with a stopper; to throw or put something somewhere carelessly or forcefully; (slang, chiefly British) broken, out of order.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word has a core concrete meaning (a stopper) and several derived verbal and adjectival uses, the latter being highly informal and regionally marked.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The noun is understood in both varieties. The verb meaning 'to throw' is more common in UK/Australian informal use. The adjective meaning 'broken' is almost exclusively British/Australian slang.
Connotations
In the UK, 'bung' as a verb can also carry a negative connotation of bribery ('to bung someone money'), implying a covert payment.
Frequency
The noun is low-frequency but standard. The slang adjective is moderately frequent in UK informal contexts but rare in US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
bung [OBJ] in/into [LOCATION]bung [OBJ] [ADV.PARTICLE]be bunged upVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bung ho! (archaic toast)”
- “have a bung eye (Aus/NZ slang: have a black eye)”
- “bung it on (Aus slang: put on airs)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in UK contexts implying illicit payments ('allegations of bungs in the transfer deal').
Academic
Virtually non-existent.
Everyday
Informal, for closing/blocking ('The sink's bunged up') or throwing ('Bung it over here'). UK: describing something broken ('The telly's bung').
Technical
Specific to brewing, winemaking, and cooperage for the stopper in a cask.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Just bung the bags in the hall for now.
- He's suspected of bunging cash to councillors.
- My nose is completely bunged up with this cold.
American English
- (Less common) Can you bung the cork back in the bottle?
- (Rare) He bunged the ball into the crowd.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial use.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial use.)
adjective
British English
- The washing machine's gone bung again.
- Don't buy that phone, it's completely bung.
American English
- (Not used in this sense.)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The bung keeps the beer inside the barrel.
- Please bung the top back on the jar when you're finished.
- The drain is bunged up with leaves; we need to clear it.
- (UK) I can't pay by card; the machine's bung.
- (UK) The journalist accused the official of accepting a bung to smooth the planning application.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BUNGe cord plugging a hole, or the sound 'BUNG!' something makes when you throw it into a box.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLOSING IS PLUGGING (bung the hole) / DISABLED IS BLOCKED (my nose is bunged up) / A BRIBE IS A FORCED PLUG (to bung someone cash).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить slang adjective 'bung' (broken) как 'банка' или 'взятка' по контексту. 'Bung it here' = 'Кинь сюда', а не 'Заткни это здесь'.
Common Mistakes
- Using the adjective 'bung' (broken) in formal writing or in US English. Confusing 'bung' (stopper) with 'bunk' (bed).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'bung' MOST likely to be used in British English slang?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's informal but not inherently rude. However, its association with bribery (UK) gives it a negative connotation in specific contexts.
Only if you are writing about the technical aspects of barrel-making (the noun). The verbal and adjectival slang uses are inappropriate for academic writing.
A bung is typically a larger, often non-tapered stopper for a barrel or large container, while a cork is usually a tapered stopper, often for bottles. Material varies (rubber, wood, plastic for bungs; cork bark for corks).
Slang develops differently in each variety. The adjectival slang likely evolved from the idea of being 'blocked' or 'stopped up' (like a pipe) and became a general term for broken in UK/Australian English, but didn't catch on in the US.