bang up

B1 informal separable transitive

In simple words

To hurt or damage something by hitting it; to put someone in prison; or (as an adjective) really great.

Literal meaning: To strike something upward or into a higher state — the idiomatic leap is to the resulting damage or confinement.

Meanings

1 B1 informal

common

To damage something or injure someone, especially through a careless impact.

"He banged up his knee pretty badly when he fell off the bike."

Grammar: separable

2 B2 idiomatic slang

uncommon

(British slang) To imprison someone; to lock someone in a cell.

"The judge decided to bang him up for three years."

Grammar: separable

3 B2 idiomatic informal

uncommon

(Adjective, North American, dated) Excellent; first-rate.

"That was a bang-up job you did on the presentation."

Usage notes

The 'damage' sense is common in American English. The 'imprison' sense is British slang. The adjective 'bang-up' meaning excellent is chiefly North American and somewhat old-fashioned. All senses are informal.

Commonly used with

car knee face prisoner job mess

Forms

Base

bang up

I/you/we/they

3rd person

bangs up

he/she/it

Past simple

banged up

yesterday

Past participle

banged up

have + pp

-ing form

banging up

continuous

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