Word
bung
US/ˈbəŋ/
UK/bˈʌŋ/
Definition
v. to throw or put something somewhere quickly, without much care. You use it for easy, casual actions, like putting clothes in a bag.
v. to place or throw something somewhere quickly and without much care. Often combined with particles such as 'in', 'on', or 'up' to show direction.
Examples
“I bung my keys on the table when I get home.”
“He bunged his wet clothes in a bag and promised to wash them later.”
“After a long shift, she bunged the leftovers in the oven, too tired to cook anything fresh for dinner.”
Examples
simple
“I bung my keys on the table when I get home.”
contextual
“He bunged his wet clothes in a bag and promised to wash them later.”
complex
“After a long shift, she bunged the leftovers in the oven, too tired to cook anything fresh for dinner.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “bung” in context.
Verb
01. bung in
“Bung it in the microwave for two minutes to reheat it.”
verb + prep
02. bung on
“Bung the kettle on and we'll have a quick cup of tea.”
verb + prep
03. bung together
“She bunged together a quick lunch from leftovers.”
verb + particle
04. bung up
“A heavy cold had bunged his nose up completely.”
verb + particle
Adjective
05. just bung
“Just bung your bag in the corner and come and sit down.”
adv + verb
Noun
06. bung clothes
“He bunged his clothes into a bag and rushed to the gym.”
verb + noun
07. bung luggage
“We bunged our luggage in the boot and set off early.”
verb + noun
08. bung washing
“I'll bung the washing in the machine before we leave.”
verb + noun
09. bung everything into a bag
“We bunged everything into a bag and caught the train.”
10. bung it in the oven
“Bung it in the oven for 20 minutes until golden.”
11. bung it in the wash
“This shirt's dirty; just bung it in the wash.”
12. bung the kettle on
“Bung the kettle on - you look frozen.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object, often followed by 'in', 'on', 'up' or 'over'.
Real-World Examples
“The CAA's Nicholson says "the most important thing is to bung it in water and cool it down," though some airlines did use specialised containment devices.” Etymology
From Medieval Dutch bonge, bonne or bonghe (“stopper”), or perhaps from French bonde, which may itself be either of Germanic origin or from Proto-Celtic *bunda—either way probably from puncta (“hole”), the feminine singular form of Latin punctus, perfect passive participle of pungō (“pierce into, prick”).
Borrowed from Yagara bang (“dead”).
From bouget (“wallet, purse or bag”), from Middle English bogett, bouget, bowgette (“leather pouch”), from Old French bougette, diminutive of bouge (“leather bag, wallet”), from Late Latin bulga (“wallet, purse”), from Gaulish bolgā, from Proto-Celtic bolgos (“sack, bag, stomach”), from Proto-Indo-European bʰólǵʰ-os (“skin bag, bolster”), from *bʰelǵʰ- (“to swell”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Related words
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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