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Glite Dictionary
to bang heads together

to bang heads together

6.5
Make people who disagree start to work together
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : hacer que se pongan de acuerdo
  • The editor decided to bang heads together to meet the publishing deadline.

Examples

  • If you two don't stop arguing, I'll have to bang heads together.

  • When the team couldn't agree, the coach had to bang heads together to get them focused.

  • Let's bang heads together and find a solution!

  • The manager decided to bang heads together to resolve the conflict.

  • The manager decided to bang heads together to resolve the ongoing conflict between the two departments.

  • In order to finalize the project, we need to bang heads together and agree on a common plan.

  • To address the escalating issues, the team leader suggested they bang heads together and come up with a solution.

Synonyms

to hammer out
vsto bang heads together
23 4.2

To talk about something in detail until people reach an agreement

uses direct physical or decisive action rather than forceful discussion
to hash out
vsto bang heads together
  • Informal
20 4.6

Talk about details carefully to reach an agreement

relies on firm action to make people cooperate instead of detailed talk
to reach a consensus
vsto bang heads together
5 3.5

A group of people agree about something after discussion

achieves agreement through forceful action rather than mutual voluntary consent
to break the deadlock
vsto bang heads together
3 3.9

To make progress when people cannot agree

involves forcing agreement rather than simply ending a stalemate
to thrash out
vsto bang heads together
  • Informal
2 5.3

To discuss a problem carefully to reach a solution or agreement

is action that forces cooperation rather than just discussing issues
to conciliate
vsto bang heads together
1 7.9

To stop people being angry and make them friendly again

depends on firm confrontation rather than gentle mediation to achieve cooperation
to bang some heads together
vsto bang heads together
  • Informal
8.6

To make people work together by firmly telling them to stop arguing

is identical in meaning but singular phrasing differs in formality
to thrash out a compromise
vsto bang heads together
5.7

Talk about things fully to reach an agreement when people disagree

favors decisive intervention to force agreement rather than prolonged discussion

How Forceful

to coerce
  • Offensive
91 6.4
to intervene
197 5.0
to bang heads together
  • Informal
6.5
to reprimand
  • Formal
33 6.1
to mediate
32 5.1
to encourage
∞ 2.3
to ask
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

bang heads together infinitive

Morphology

bang + head + together

The components 'bang' (use force), 'heads' (people or leaders) and 'together' (to unite) point toward a figurative meaning of using forceful action to make people cooperate, so a learner who knows the parts can often infer the general idea. However, the expression is metaphorical/idiomatic (not literally striking heads) and its pragmatic sense and appropriateness are not fully predictable without exposure, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Bang heads together may come from the image of two people literally banging their heads together to stop an argument. That's why it now means 'to take strong action to make people agree or work together'.