Phrasal verb
bang away
Definition
phrasal verb. to work hard and steadily on a task for a long time. You use this when someone keeps trying to finish something difficult or noisy.
phrasal verb. To work persistently and vigorously at a task. While the phrasal verb is intransitive, it frequently takes a prepositional complement using 'at' to specify the activity.
Examples
“He is banging away at his essay to meet the deadline.”
“Despite the heat, the construction crew spent the whole day banging away at the old wall until it finally crumbled.”
“While the rest of the team celebrated the launch, the lead developer was already banging away at the next set of features in his office.”
Examples
simple
“He is banging away at his essay to meet the deadline.”
contextual
“Despite the heat, the construction crew spent the whole day banging away at the old wall until it finally crumbled.”
complex
“While the rest of the team celebrated the launch, the lead developer was already banging away at the next set of features in his office.”
Usage
This phrase is informal and usually implies a noisy or very energetic effort.
Teaching tip
Use this to illustrate how 'away' as a particle can indicate continuous or persistent action, similar to 'work away' or 'scrub away'.
Pitfall
She banged away her homework.
She banged away at her homework.
When followed by a task or object, the preposition 'at' is necessary to connect the action to the noun.
Phrasal verb
Particles
away
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
bang + away + at + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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