gang
B2Informal, but also has technical and neutral uses.
Definition
Meaning
A group of people, often young, who associate together, sometimes for antisocial or criminal purposes.
Any organized group of people working or socializing together; a set of similar tools or machines designed to work together.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily refers to a group. Can have highly negative connotations (criminality) or neutral/positive ones (workmates). The plural 'gangs' often refers to organized criminal groups.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is similar. In UK, 'gang' for friends is slightly more informal ("me and my gang"). In US, 'gang' as a verb (to gang up) is more common. 'Chain gang' is a specific US historical term.
Connotations
Strongly associated with urban crime and violence in both varieties. The neutral sense of 'work gang' or 'gang of tools' is technical and less common in everyday speech.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English media due to greater coverage of gang-related crime.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
gang + togethergang + up on + someonegang + of + (people/tools)be part of + a gangjoin + a gangVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “gang up on someone”
- “gang agley (Scottish: go wrong)”
- “run with the wrong gang”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. May refer to a 'gang punch' (data processing) or 'gang printing' (multiple copies).
Academic
Used in sociology, criminology ("gang studies"), and history.
Everyday
Common for referring to groups of friends or problematic youth groups.
Technical
In engineering: 'gang switch', 'gang drill'. In agriculture: 'gang mower'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The lads would always gang together at the weekend.
- Don't let them gang up on you.
American English
- The kids ganged up to clean the lot.
- They ganged up on the new student.
adverb
British English
- They worked gang-ho on the project. (Note: 'gung-ho' is the standard term; 'gang' as adverb is archaic/non-standard)
American English
- They worked gang-style. (Note: 'gang' as adverb is rare/non-standard)
adjective
British English
- The gang culture in the city is a serious concern.
- He faced gang-related violence.
American English
- Gang activity has decreased in the precinct.
- She researched gang behavior.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Tom plays football with his gang after school.
- A gang of children ran into the park.
- Police arrested several members of the local gang.
- The workers formed a gang to finish the job quickly.
- The film explores the motivations behind young people joining gangs.
- He was pressured by his gang to take part in the robbery.
- Sociologists debate whether aggressive policing inadvertently strengthens gang cohesion.
- The cabinet was nothing more than a gang of self-serving ideologues.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
GANG rhymes with HANG – think of a group hanging out together.
Conceptual Metaphor
A GROUP IS A MACHINE ("The work gang operated like a well-oiled machine"). A SOCIAL GROUP IS A FORCE ("The gang descended on the neighbourhood").
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with "банда" only in criminal sense. "Gang of friends" is neutral. The Russian "ганг" is a false friend from English. Use "группа", "компания", or "бригада" for neutral contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'gang' for any formal organization (e.g., a company). Overusing the criminal connotation in neutral contexts. Incorrect: 'He joined a gang of engineers.' Better: 'He joined a team of engineers.'
Practice
Quiz
In a technical workshop context, 'a gang of drills' most likely means:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While often associated with crime, it can be neutral or positive when referring to a close group of friends or a work team (e.g., 'the gardening gang'). Context is key.
'Gang' implies informal, often tight-knit association, sometimes for a shared (potentially illicit) purpose. 'Team' suggests a formal, goal-oriented group. 'Crew' is often for workers on a ship, plane, or film set, or a close friend group (slang).
Yes, primarily in the phrasal verb 'gang up on' meaning 'to unite against someone'. The simple verb 'to gang' meaning 'to go' is archaic (Scottish/Northern English).
The core meaning and usage are very similar. The verb 'gang up on' is slightly more prevalent in AmE. Specific terms like 'chain gang' (US) or 'ganging' in printing/engineering are technical.