bung

IPA/bʌŋ/
KK[bˈʌŋ]IPA/bʌŋ/

bung — noun

  • bungsingular
  • bungsplural

1. a stopper pushed into an opening in a barrel, bottle, or similar container so th

1.noun
Definition

a stopper pushed into an opening in a barrel, bottle, or similar container so the contents stay inside.

Example

Ayesha pushed the rubber bung back into the cider barrel.

rubber bung in a barrel

Without the bung, olive oil leaked from the metal drum.

Common collocations
  • rubber bung
  • wooden bung
  • pull out the bung
  • replace the bung
Synonyms
  • stopper

    the broad everyday word for something that closes an opening

  • plug

    broader and less specific, used for many kinds of openings

  • cork

    used when the closing piece is specifically made of cork

Grammar Patterns

rubber bung

wooden bung

remove the bung

replace the bung

Usage Note

Most often used for barrels, casks, drums, and other larger containers. Distinguish from sense 2, which means money given secretly to influence someone.

Common Mistakes

Put the bung on the barrel.
Put the bung in the barrel opening.
a bung is pushed into the hole, not placed on top like a lid.

2. money secretly handed over so that someone will act unfairly or break the rules.

2.noun
Definition

money secretly handed over so that someone will act unfairly or break the rules.

Example

The builder offered a bung to skip the safety inspection.

offer a bung to influence someone

Christopher took a bung from the supplier and changed the order.

Common collocations
  • offer a bung
  • pay a bung
  • take a bung
  • a bung to an official
Synonyms
  • bribe

    the standard general word for illegal or dishonest payment

  • payoff

    informal and often used when the payment settles or buys silence

  • kickback

    especially money returned as part of a dishonest deal

Grammar Patterns

offer a bung

pay a bung

take a bung

a bung to an official

Usage Note

Used mainly in British informal English for dishonest money given behind the scenes. It often appears in news or political contexts rather than ordinary daily talk.

Common Mistakes

They gave the officer a nice gift as a bung.
They paid the officer a bung.
a bung is secret money meant to influence someone, not an ordinary present.

bung — verb

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Bung, stopper, plug, cork, and cap overlap, but they are not used in exactly the same places. A bung is most natural for a barrel, cask, or large drum, especially in brewing or storage. Stopper is the broad everyday word for something pushed into an opening to keep liquid or air in. Plug is also broad, but it often stresses a tight fit and can name many other things, including electrical parts, so it feels less specific. Cork is right when the piece is actually made of cork, especially in wine bottles. Cap differs because it fits over the top from outside. You remove a bung from a cider barrel, but you put a cap on a water bottle.

stopper ↗plug ↗cork ↗cap ↗

Etymology

Middle DutchEnglish

The older stopper sense goes back to late Middle English and came into English from Middle Dutch words for a plug or stopper. That history matches the word's long use around barrels, casks, and other storage containers. The verb developed later in British English, first for blocking an opening and then for putting something somewhere quickly and carelessly. The bribery sense is much newer and figurative, using bung for money slipped to someone so they will bend the rules.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb