gong
gb/ɡˈɔŋ/ us/ɡˈɔŋ/
B2
English
~ 9900
gong, díj, kitüntetés, érem, gongszó, fű, marihuána
NOUN
B2
1
gong
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] hits [a] gong
The conductor signaled the percussionist to strike the gong at the climax of the piece.
A karmester jelezte az ütőhangszeresnek, hogy a mű tetőpontján üsse meg a gongot.
A huge bronze gong hung at the entrance to the temple.
A templom bejáratánál egy hatalmas, bronzból készült gong függött.
With a dramatic crash of the gong, the show began.
She hit the gong three times to mark the end of the meditation session.
Learner examples
The man hit the large gong with a soft stick.
A férfi egy puha verővel ütötte meg a nagy gongot.
There is a big gong on the stage for the concert.
A koncerthez egy nagy gong van a színpadon.
When the gong rings, the class is over.
They used a gong to start the game.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse the spelling of "gong" with "gone" or think a gong is the same as a small bell. A gong is usually much larger and flatter than a bell, and it hangs vertically.
Meaning
large metal disc percussion instrument
Collocations
hit the gong
|strike the gong
|crash of the gong
|orchestral gong
|ceremonial gong
|a deep gong
Synonyms
tam-tam (A more technical musical term for a large flat gong used in orchestras.)
Antonyms
silence (Refers to the complete absence of sound, contrasting with the loud sound made by a gong.)
Themes
music
|entertainment
|culture
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A big, flat metal disc that hangs and makes a deep, loud sound when you hit it.
A large, flat metal percussion instrument, usually hung vertically and struck with a padded stick to produce a loud, resonant sound.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
to win [a] gong
He picked up a gong for best actor at the film festival.
A filmfesztiválon elhozta a legjobb színésznek járó díjat.
The soldiers lined up, waiting to see who would get a gong for bravery.
A katonák felsorakoztak, várva, hogy kiderüljön, ki kap kitüntetést bátorságért.
She already has an Olympic silver gong and is hoping for gold this year.
The TV drama swept the ceremony, taking home five major gongs.
Learner examples
He was very happy to win a big gong for his work.
Nagyon boldog volt, hogy nagy díjat nyert a munkájáért.
She hopes to get a gong at the music awards.
Reméli, hogy nyer egy díjat a zenei díjátadón.
The paper said the hero got a gong from the Queen.
Our team did not get a gong, but we played well.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this meaning is formal because it refers to official awards, but "gong" for a medal is informal and especially common in British and Australian English newspapers and speech.
Meaning
medal or official award
Collocations
win a gong
|pick up a gong
|an Olympic gong
|a military gong
|industry gongs
|go for a gong
Synonyms
medal (The standard word; "gong" is a more casual, often British, way to say the same thing.)
Antonyms
snub (Being deliberately passed over for an award contrasts with receiving a gong.)
Themes
awards
|sports
|military
|politics
Definition
An informal word for a medal or award that someone gets for winning or doing something special.
A medal or similar official award, especially for military service, public honor, or sporting success.
NOUN
B2
3
gongszó
B2
Usage pattern:
[a] gong sounds
A single gong echoed through the hall to mark the start of the ceremony.
Egyetlen gongszó visszhangzott a termen át, jelezve a szertartás kezdetét.
The distant gong from the temple could be heard across the valley.
A templomból érkező távoli gongszó az egész völgyben hallatszott.
At midnight, the slow, heavy gong of the clock tower filled the square.
With a final gong, the performance came to an end.
Learner examples
We heard a loud gong from the temple.
Hangos gongszót hallottunk a templom felől.
The gong at twelve told us it was midnight.
A tizenkét órakor felhangzó gongszó jelezte, hogy éjfél van.
A deep gong filled the quiet room.
After the last gong, everyone stood up.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use only "sound" or "noise" and do not realize that "gong" can also name the specific kind of ringing sound, not just the instrument.
Meaning
deep resonant gong sound
Collocations
a loud gong
|a deep gong
|the gong sounded
|the crash of a gong
|a single gong
Synonyms
clang (Suggests a loud, resonant metal sound, though not always as deep or long as a gong sound.)
Antonyms
silence (Describes the complete absence of sound, opposite to the loud ringing of a gong.)
Themes
sound
|music
|arts_entertainment
|communication
Definition
The loud, long sound you hear when someone hits a gong.
The deep, ringing sound that is made when a gong is struck.
NOUN
C1
SLANG
4
Usage pattern:
to smoke gong
He got caught trying to bring a bag of gong through customs.
Elkapták, amikor egy zacskó füvet próbált átvinni a vámon.
They were sitting in the park, quietly passing around some gong.
A parkban ültek, és csendben körbeadtak egy kis füvet.
The new laws increased penalties for selling gong to teenagers.
Learner examples
In some places, people use the word gong to mean marijuana.
Egyes helyeken a „gong” szót marihuána jelentésben használják.
He was arrested because he had a lot of gong.
Letartóztatták, mert sok fű volt nála.
Her parents were angry when they found gong in her room.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this is regional slang and might try to use it in formal situations. It should be avoided in formal writing and careful speech, and it may not be understood outside certain regions.
Meaning
slang term for cannabis
Collocations
smoke gong
|sell gong
|score some gong
|good-quality gong
Synonyms
weed (Very common informal word for cannabis; "gong" is more regional and less widely understood.)
Antonyms
sobriety (Refers to not using drugs or alcohol, contrasting with using cannabis.)
Themes
drugs
|slang
|health
|daily_life
Definition
A slang word, mainly in Australia, meaning cannabis (marijuana).
Slang, especially in Australian and some other English varieties, for cannabis used as an illegal recreational drug.
Grammar
Dictionary form
gong
IPA
GB/ɡˈɔŋ/
US/ɡˈɔŋ/
Syllables & stress
gong (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (gong)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: gong
- Plural: gongs
Word family
Forms
gongs
noun
Expressions
bang the gong
1/bˈæŋ ðə ɡˈɔŋ/
idiom
informal
promote or celebrate loudly
To talk about something in a very loud and showy way, as if you are making a big noise to get attention.
Examples
- The company has been banging the gong about its new app all over social media.
- Critics say the government is banging the gong about small successes while ignoring bigger problems.
sound the gong
1/sˈaʊnd ðə ɡˈɔŋ/
fixed phrase
strike a gong as a signal
To hit a gong so that its sound tells people that something is starting or ending.
Examples
- They sounded the gong to mark the beginning of the ceremony.
- Once the referee sounds the gong, the fighters must return to their corners.