gang
gb/ɡˈæŋ/ us/ɡˈæŋ/
A2
English
~ 4300
bűnbanda, banda, bűnözői csoport, haveri kör, társaság, brigád, munkacsapat, munkásbrigád
NOUN
B1
1
Usage pattern:
a gang of [people]
The police arrested several members of the street gang.
A rendőrség letartóztatta az utcai banda több tagját.
Gang violence has been increasing in the city.
A városban egyre nő a bandákhoz köthető erőszak.
He joined a gang when he was a teenager.
The rival gang controls the other side of town.
Learner examples
The gang robbed a bank.
A banda kirabolt egy bankot.
A gang fights with another gang.
Egy banda harcol egy másik bandával.
The police stopped the gang.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'gang' with 'group' in all contexts, but 'gang' usually has a negative or criminal meaning.
Meaning
Group of criminals
Collocations
street gang
|gang violence
|gang member
|rival gang
|gang leader
Synonyms
mob (Often used for large, organized criminal groups, especially in the context of organized crime.)
Antonyms
police (Law enforcement group that works against gangs.)
Themes
crime
|society
|law
Definition
A group of people who do crimes together.
A group of people who work together to commit crimes or engage in illegal activities.
NOUN
A2
INFORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
the gang [verb] together
I’m meeting up with the old gang this weekend.
A hétvégén találkozom a régi bandával.
The gang always goes to that café on Fridays.
A banda péntekenként mindig abba a kávézóba jár.
Let's invite the whole gang to the party.
Learner examples
I play soccer with my gang.
A bandámmal szoktam focizni.
The gang meets every week.
A banda minden héten találkozik.
I like my gang.
Common mistake:
Some learners may overuse 'gang' for any group, but in this sense it is casual and friendly.
Meaning
Group of friends
Collocations
meet the gang
|hang out with the gang
|the old gang
Synonyms
crew (Informal term for a close group of friends; may sound trendier or more youthful.)
Antonyms
stranger (Someone outside the group of friends.)
Themes
friendship
|social life
|relationships
|daily_life
Definition
A group of friends who like to be together.
A group of friends or people who regularly spend time together.
NOUN
B2
3
Usage pattern:
a gang of [workers]
A gang of builders is working on the new road.
Egy építőbrigád dolgozik az új út építésén.
The railway gang repaired the tracks overnight.
A vasúti brigád éjszaka megjavította a síneket.
He joined a maintenance gang at the factory.
Learner examples
A gang builds the road.
Egy brigád építi az utat.
The gang works in the factory.
A brigád a gyárban dolgozik.
I see a gang fixing the bridge.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the criminal meaning; context usually clarifies it.
Meaning
Group of workers or team
Collocations
construction gang
|railway gang
|work gang
Synonyms
team (Neutral term for a group working together; lacks the informal or criminal connotations of 'gang'.)
Antonyms
individual worker (A single person working alone, not in a team.)
Themes
work
|labor
Definition
A group of people working together on a job.
A group of workers or a team organized to perform a particular job together.
Grammar
Dictionary form
gang
IPA
GB/ɡˈæŋ/
US/ɡˈæŋ/
Syllables & stress
gang (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (gang)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: gang
- Plural: gangs
Word family
Expressions
a one-man gang
1/ə wˈʌn mˈæn ɡˈæŋ/
idiom
informal
One person doing group's work
One person who does as much work as many people would do together.
Examples
- He fixed the car, painted the house, and cooked dinner—he’s a one-man gang.
- With her energy, she’s like a one-man gang at the office.
gang together
1/ɡˈæŋ təɡˈɛðɚ/
phrasal verb
Form group for goal
To join with others to do something together.
Examples
- Local businesses ganged together to protest the new tax.
- They ganged together to help their neighbor.
gang up on
1/ɡˈæŋ ˈʌp ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
informal
Join to attack one person
To join with others to attack or be unkind to one person.
Examples
- The other kids ganged up on him in the playground.
- They all ganged up on me during the meeting.