gung-ho

[guhng-hoh]

adjective

1. wholeheartedly enthusiastic and loyal; eager; zealous.

   a gung-ho military outfit.

adverb

1. in a successful manner.

   The business is going gung-ho.

gung ho

/ ɡʌŋ həʊ /

adjective

1. extremely enthusiastic and enterprising, sometimes to excess

2. extremely keen to participate in military combat

gung-ho

1. Extremely enthusiastic or zealous: “He was gung-ho about going on a vacation to the beach.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of gung ho¹

Introduced as a training slogan in 1942 by U.S. Marine officer Evans F. Carlson (1896–1947), from Chinese gōng hé, the abbreviated name of the Chinese Industrial Cooperative Society, taken by a literal translation as “work together”

Word History and Origins

Origin of gung ho¹

C20: pidgin English, from Mandarin Chinese kung work + ho together

Idioms and Phrases

Also, gung-ho. Extremely enthusiastic or dedicated, as in She was gung ho about her new job. This expression was introduced in 1942 as a training slogan for a U.S. Marine battalion, derived from what an American officer thought were Mandarin Chinese words for “work together.” It was actually an abbreviation for the name of Chinese industrial cooperatives.

Example Sentences

There will be no gung-ho tactics here, either, because this is going to be a really tight affair between two very clever managers.

From BBC

His gung-ho tactics and high line will succeed spectacularly or fail miserably.

From BBC

Liverpool may have an incredibly tough home fixture against Arsenal, but so far this season Arne Slot's gung-ho attacking approach has been paying off.

From BBC

"But Tottenham have been resilient, shown they can defend, not been gung-ho and not leaving themselves open. This is exactly what Ange Postecoglou needs and it eases a little bit of pressure on them."

From BBC

She added: "Maybe I'll tip toe in, maybe just go gung-ho, I don't know."

From BBC