bung
bung — noun
- bungsingular
- bungsplural
1. a short cylinder of rubber, wood, or cork designed to block the opening of a con
a short cylinder of rubber, wood, or cork designed to block the opening of a container such as a barrel or bottle, preventing liquid or air from escaping.
Imran pulled the rubber bung out of the wine barrel with a soft pop.
bung + out of [container]
The chemistry teacher showed the class how to fit a glass bung into a flask.
Luca replaced the wooden bung in the cask before rolling it back into the cellar.
Dahlia wet the cork bung to expand for a tighter fit at the bottle neck.
- stopper
the more general term; a stopper can be any shape or material, while a bung is typically cylindrical and used for barrels
- plug
a plug can seal any kind of hole (sink, pipe, ear); bung is specifically for containers like barrels and bottles
- cork
cork is specifically made from cork bark and used mainly for wine bottles; a bung may be rubber or wood
2. money given secretly to someone, particularly a person in authority, in exchange
money given secretly to someone, particularly a person in authority, in exchange for a dishonest or illegal action.
The construction company was accused of paying a bung to secure a government contract.
pay a bung [to someone]
Walid refused the bung and reported the corrupt offer to the police immediately.
Investigators found evidence of regular bungs passed to council officials in exchange for building permits.
Lauren realised her business partner had been accepting a weekly bung from a rival supplier.
- bribe
the standard, neutral term used in both formal and informal English; 'bung' is more restricted to informal British use
- backhander
British informal term, similar in register to 'bung', but suggests a one-off payment rather than regular payments
用法筆記
Chiefly British informal. Common in news coverage of corruption scandals but not used in formal legal documents — 'bribe' is the standard term in all varieties of English.
常見錯誤
bung — verb
- bungpresent simple I / you / we / they
- bungshe / she / it
- bungedpast simple
- bunging-ing form
1. to place or drop an item quickly and without care, often into a bag, drawer, or
to place or drop an item quickly and without care, often into a bag, drawer, or container, without taking time to arrange it properly.
Hoa bunged a wet umbrella into the cupboard and slammed the door shut.
bung [object] into [location]
Vinícius bunged a few shirts into his bag and left to catch the train.
Just bung the dirty dishes in the sink and I will wash them later.
The mechanic bunged oily rags into a metal bin by the garage wall.
- chuck
also informal in British English, but suggests throwing more than placing; 'bung' is gentler and more about quick placement than actual throwing
- shove
implies force or roughness; 'bung' suggests speed but not necessarily force
- toss
implies a light throw; 'bung' is less about the motion and more about putting something away carelessly
文法句型
bung + object + into/in/on/under [location]
用法筆記
Chiefly British informal. Always requires a directional phrase (into, in, on) to say where the item is placed. The verb suggests haste or lack of care — it can sound dismissive if used about someone else's belongings.
常見錯誤
2. to close or block an opening by inserting a plug, stopper, or other material tha
to close or block an opening by inserting a plug, stopper, or other material that prevents liquid, air, or gas from escaping.
Adina bunged the test tube with a cotton plug to keep the solution dust-free.
bung [container] with [stopper material]
Ryo bunged the leak in the barrel with cloth until a repair could be made.
The plumber bunged the drainage pipe temporarily to stop the smell escaping into the kitchen.
Reuben carefully bunged the bottle with a sterilised rubber stopper before labelling it.
- plug
more general; 'plug a hole' works for walls, pipes, tyres — 'bung' is more specific to containers with bung-sized openings
- seal
more general and formal; 'seal' can use glue, tape, or heat — 'bung' specifically involves inserting a stopper
- stop
a simple everyday word that can replace 'bung' in informal contexts ('stop the bottle with a cork')
文法句型
bung + object (hole/container)
用法筆記
Often used in passive constructions ('the barrel was bunged with a wooden plug'). The object is typically the container or opening being sealed, not the plug itself.