gang up
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gang up
To unite or band together for some common goal. All of the schools in our town will gang up to clean up local parks on Earth Day. The kids always gang up and try to convince me to get pizza or fast food for dinner. Come on, they're all witnesses too. If we gang up with them, we'll solve this mystery faster.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
gang up (on someone)
to form into a group and attack someone. (Usually a physical attack, but it can also be a verbal attack.) We can't win against the robber unless we gang up on him. All right, you guys, don't gang up on me. Play fair!
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
gang up
1. Also, gang up with. Act together as a group. For example, The residents ganged up to make the neighborhood safer. [Colloquial; c. 1920]
2. gang up on or against . Join in opposition or attack against, as in The big kids were always ganging up on the little ones, or They all ganged up against the substitute teacher. [1920s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
gang up
v.
1. To join together to attack or address some problem or issue: The various police agencies ganged up to fight the illegal drug trade.
2. gang up on To join together to bother, harm, or attack someone or something: The older children were always ganging up on the little ones.
3. gang up against To join together in opposition to someone or something: Whenever one corporation became too powerful, the others ganged up against it.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.