# bang about

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bang-about
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

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

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

## Examples

- Stop banging about in the kitchen; I am trying to sleep.
- I could hear the neighbors banging about as they moved their heavy furniture into the new apartment.
- The workmen spent the entire morning banging about in the attic, making it impossible for the residents below to concentrate on their tasks.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He is banging about the door." but "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.

## Usage notes

- 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.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.