gang-up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
mediuminformal, colloquial
Quick answer
What does “gang-up” mean?
To form a group with others to oppose, attack, or bully someone, often unfairly.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To form a group with others to oppose, attack, or bully someone, often unfairly.
Can refer to any collaborative action by multiple individuals against a common target, implying an imbalance of power or bullying; also used as a noun to describe such an action.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is broadly similar, but 'gang up' may be slightly more frequent in American English in casual speech.
Connotations
Negative in both varieties, implying ganging up on someone.
Frequency
Understood in both, but more commonly used in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “gang-up” in a Sentence
gang up on [person]gang up against [person/group]gang up to [verb]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gang-up” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The pupils often gang up on the quieter ones during breaks.
American English
- The team ganged up against the coach after the losing streak.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; mostly in informal descriptions of workplace conflict.
Academic
Occasional in social sciences to describe group dynamics or bullying.
Everyday
Common in informal speech to describe unfair group behavior.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gang-up”
- Using 'gang up with' instead of 'gang up on'
- Omitting the preposition 'on' or 'against'
- Confusing with neutral terms like 'cooperate'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is informal and colloquial, not suitable for formal writing.
Yes, it can be used as a noun, e.g., 'The gang-up against her was obvious.'
Typically 'on' or 'against', as in 'gang up on someone' or 'gang up against someone'.
No, it generally has a negative connotation of bullying or unfair collaboration.
To form a group with others to oppose, attack, or bully someone, often unfairly.
Gang-up: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡæŋ ʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡæŋ ʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “gang up on someone”
- “form a gang-up”
- “ganged-up situation”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a 'gang' of people standing 'up' against one person—they gang up on them.
Conceptual Metaphor
COLLABORATION AS AGGRESSION, GROUP AS BULLY
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary implication of 'gang up'?