gang-up
noun
an act of ganging up or uniting in opposition to someone or something.
gang-up
American
[gang-uhp]
/ ˈgæŋˌʌp /
noun
gang up
British
verb
gang up
Idioms
-
Also, gang up with . Act together as a group. For example, The residents ganged up to make the neighborhood safer . [ Colloquial ; c. 1920]
-
. 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]
Etymology
Origin of gang-up
1935–40; noun use of verb phrase gang up ( on )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The good news is there is a way to disable the gang-up tactic.
From Salon ● Nov. 21, 2024
The maid of honor is scared of broaching this subject, but if we all do it together, does that feel like a gang-up?
From Slate ● Jul. 8, 2021
Under present law, such a labor gang-up would seem to be patently illegal.
From Time Magazine Archive
Translation by one of his aides: "No gang-up on the Americans."
From Time Magazine Archive
Club suddenly gave the New York World-Telegram the club's-eye view of the gang-up.
From Time Magazine Archive
In the 2011 comedy “Horrible Bosses,” three friends gang up against their bosses—all different versions of horrible.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 29, 2025
"Canada and Mexico want to show unity, without appearing to gang up on the US."
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2025
“Having two older brothers, they’re going to gang up on their little sister,” Rubin said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2021
Indy’s offense has struggled to stretch the field, which has allowed defensive coordinators to gang up against a ground game that has struggled after thriving last season.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 9, 2020
“You have no right to treat me like that. And you don’t even fight one-on-one. You gang up on people like cowards.”
From "Fish in a Tree" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
