# bang on

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to talk about something for a long time in a way that is boring or annoying for others.

For teachers: to speak at length and repetitively about a particular topic, often to the point of exasperating the listener; frequently used with the preposition 'about'.

## Examples

- He is always banging on about his new car.
- I wish she would stop banging on about her vacation plans because we have work to finish.
- The politician continued to bang on about fiscal responsibility despite the clear evidence that his own department had exceeded its annual budget.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He bangs on his problems." but "He bangs on about his problems." — the preposition 'about' is necessary to connect the verb to the topic of conversation.

## Usage notes

- informal British English; usually followed by 'about' and a noun or gerund.
- Teaching tip: this is a great example of how 'on' can indicate a continuous, repetitive, or annoying action in phrasal verbs, similar to 'go on' or 'keep on'.

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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.