bung

Everyday

1. A stopper or plug that closes a hole in a barrel, bottle or sink. tree →
2. (verb, UK, informal) To put or throw something somewhere quickly and carelessly: «just bung it in the bag». tree →
3. (verb) To block something up: «my nose is all bunged up». tree →
4. (noun, UK, slang) A bribe: money given secretly to get an unfair advantage. tree →
5. (Australia, informal) «Go bung» means break down or stop working. tree →

In the lessons

Very common in British and Australian everyday speech: «bung the kettle on», «bung it in the oven». With a cold, your nose is bunged up. In news, a «bung» is a secret payment, especially in sport.

Examples

• Bung your coat on the chair. tree →
• Can you bung the pizza in the oven? tree →
• My nose is all bunged up with a cold. tree →
• Put the bung back in the barrel. tree →
• The football agent was accused of taking a bung. tree →
• The old telly's gone bung again (Australia). tree →
• Don't stand there like a ridiculous oaf, for I must go back again directly to my bung and my cask." tree →

Note

Informal in senses 2–5. Regular verb: bunged. In formal writing say put, throw, block, bribe.