Phrase guide

bang on

adj · prep · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Precisely accurate; exactly appropriate or fitting; spot on.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: on the mark, on the money, spot on

Antonyms: none provided

2

prep

Meaning 2

Exactly at

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Australia, UK, informal

Examples

  • I managed to arrive bang on five o’clock.
  • She’s bang on the dot, as usual.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To talk about something constantly and tiresomely.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Australia, Ireland, UK, derogatory, informal, usually

Examples

  • I started recycling, just so she’d stop banging on about it.
  • Give it a rest! You've been banging on all day.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Polish: trafny — precisely accurate
  • Polish: w dziesiątkę — precisely accurate
  • Polish: punkt — exactly at
  • Polish: przynudzać — to talk about something constantly and tiresomely