bang away

To keep hitting something, usually making a loud noise.

• He banged away on the drums.
• The children were banging away on an old piano.
• Who is banging away at the metal gate?

How to use it: bang away on/at something (Someone was banging away at the door.)

Similar words: pound, hammer

Common phrases: bang away loudly, bang away on something

To keep working hard at something for a long time.

• I banged away at the essay.
• She has been banging away at that project for weeks.
• We kept banging away until the work was done.

How to use it: bang away at something (He has been banging away at his report all morning.)

Similar words: plug away, work away, toil

Common phrases: bang away at something, bang away all day

To keep talking about something or demanding something in an annoying way.

• He bangs away about his taxes.
• My parents keep banging away at me to study.
• She banged away about the same complaint throughout dinner.

How to use it: bang away about something (He keeps banging away about the parking rules.); bang away at someone to do something (They bang away at me to get a better job.)

Similar words: go on, nag, harp on

Common phrases: bang away about something, bang away at someone