Meaning

(UK, Ireland, Commonwealth, slang) A stench, a bad smell..

Definitions by Sense

1. (UK, Ireland, Commonwealth, slang) A stench, a bad smell.
2. (UK, Ireland, Commonwealth, slang) To stink, to smell bad.
3. (slang, theater, derogatory) To deliver a line of a play in an arch, suggestive or unnatural way, so as to draw undue attention to it.
4. (slang, theater, intransitive) To invent a line of dialogue when one has forgotten the actual line.
5. (networking) A packet sent in reply to a ping, thereby indicating the presence of a host.
6. (mahjong) Alternative form of pung.

Example Sentences

1992, Bryce Courtenay, Tandia, Volume 1, 2011, Read How You Want, page 109, She sniffed, squiffing up her nose. ‘What a pong! Do they all smell like this?’

2000, Susan Sallis, 2011, unnumbered page, ‘I see what you mean about the pong. I couldn′t smell it on myself but I can smell it on you!’

Carrot ran past him to get to the barrel first, and peered down at the cowering Catweazle. “No rats, Dad,” he said. “What's that terrible pong, then?” said Mr Bennett, sniffing.

I can remember calling round once and when she answered the door I was greeted by an unmistakable, noxious pong. “I can smell gas!” I said. “Oh, have I left the ring on?” she asked vaguely.

If you want to empty a crowded room strong body pong will usually do the trick.

1997, Taufiq Ismail, David M. E. Roskies (translator and editor), Stop Thief!, Black Clouds Over the Isle of Gods and Other Modern Indonesian Short Stories, page 97, On she walked at a crawling pace, ponging of sweat, drops of mucus and blood falling between her feet.

2009, Susan Brocker, Saving Sam, HarperCollins, New Zealand, unnumbered page, The place ponged, like the smell of stale cat pee.

2011, Victor Pemberton, We′ll Sing at Dawn, 2012, eBook, Headline Publishing, unnumbered page, […] and this evening, Eileen Perkins′s daughter Rita ponged with the smell of cheap carbolic soap, after a late-afternoon visit to the public baths down Hornsey Road.

Word Forms

• pongs
• ponging
• ponged

Synonyms for pong

Related Words

When Should You Use Pong?

Use pong when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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