bang away
B2 informal inseparable intransitive
In simple words
To keep doing something repeatedly and with a lot of energy or noise.
Literal meaning: To keep banging in an outward direction — the literal sense (continuous striking) underlies the idiomatic use.
Meanings
1 B2 informal
To keep firing a gun or shooting repeatedly.
"The soldiers banged away at the advancing troops until they ran out of ammunition."
Grammar: inseparable
2 B1 informal
To type or hit keys on a keyboard loudly and persistently.
"She banged away at her laptop all night trying to finish the essay."
Grammar: inseparable
3 B2
idiomatic
informal
To work on something persistently and energetically over a period of time.
"He's been banging away at that research proposal for weeks."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Can be used in shooting contexts (keep firing), typing contexts (typing loudly), or as a general idiom for persistent effort. The preposition 'at' often follows: 'bang away at something.'
Commonly used with
keyboard typewriter gun problem task piano
Forms
Base
bang away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bangs away
he/she/it
Past simple
banged away
yesterday
Past participle
banged away
have + pp
-ing form
banging away
continuous
Understand "bang away" better
Try:
Real video examples
Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.
Synonyms
Want to master this phrasal verb?
Practice "bang away" on Looplines