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Go over with a bang

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

To be received with great enthusiasm and success; it describes a performance, event, or idea that makes a very positive, powerful impact on an audience.

Detailed Definition
Go over with a bang means to succeed dramatically, make a strong impression, or be received with excitement and applause. In poetry, it can describe a performance, speech, party, joke, public gesture, or artistic experiment that lands powerfully. The “bang” suggests theatrical impact, fireworks, noise, and sudden release of energy. It is useful in poems about popularity, spectacle, celebration, or the anxiety of reception. Used ironically, it may also suggest that success is loud but short-lived.
Example
Example in poetry:
A performance poem may say the new song went over with a bang; In a comic village scene, the fireworks display goes over with a bang in more ways than one; The phrase can mean a great success; A poet might use it ironically when applause follows disaster.
Additional Notes
Go over with a bang means succeed dramatically and receive an enthusiastic response. The bang suggests noise, impact, celebration, or theatrical effect. In poetry, it can suit performances, speeches, parties, jokes, and public gestures. Students should note that the phrase may imply spectacle more than depth. A poem might use it ironically when applause is loud but meaning is shallow.
Also Known As
succeed greatly
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