ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bang about

phr. v..
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford

phr. v.. to move around a place making a lot of loud noise, often by hitting things or dropping them.

phr. v.. to move or work in a noisy, clumsy, or energetic manner, typically involving the creation of percussive sounds against surfaces or objects.


SIMPLE

Stop banging about in the kitchen; I am trying to sleep.

CONTEXTUAL

I could hear the neighbors banging about as they moved their heavy furniture into the new apartment.

COMPLEX

The workmen spent the entire morning banging about in the attic, making it impossible for the residents below to concentrate on their tasks.

Particles
about
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
bang + about
Usage

often used in the continuous form to describe an ongoing, annoying activity.

Teaching tip

this is a more casual and descriptive alternative to 'making noise'; the particle 'about' emphasizes movement within a space rather than a single sound.

Pitfall

He is banging about the door.He is banging on the door.'Bang about' describes general noisy movement in an area, while 'bang on' is used for hitting a specific object.

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