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Glite Dictionary
to go out with a bang

to go out with a bang

12 6.0
End something in a memorable and exciting way
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : terminar por todo lo alto
  • If the world is going to end, why not go out with a bang?
  • want to go out with a bang

Why not go out with a bang, right?

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Examples

  • At least this show is going out with a bang.

    Blog text (12)

  • You of all people know how important it is to go out with a bang.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Why not go out with a bang, right?

    Megyn Kelly

  • You want to go out with a bang?

    Elephant White (2011)

  • And believe this, we're going out with a bang, baby.

    Johnny Mnemonic (1995)

  • Our guess is, she wants to go out with a bang.

    The Shooter (1995)

  • One last chance for Sergeant Street to go out with a bang.

    Wheely (2018)

  • I love that she, Bill, and the franchise are going out with a bang.

    Blog text (32)

  • In the final game of their collegiate careers, Colton Chapple and Treavor Scales went out with a bang.

    Blog text (24)

  • Next week is our last edition in our 15-week series, and we're going out with a bang.

Synonyms

finale
vsto go out with a bang
180 3.6

The last, most exciting part of a show or event

describes ending as a memorable exciting finish rather than just the final part
with a bang
vsto go out with a bang
  • Informal
28 5.1

In an exciting way that attracts a lot of attention

applies specifically to a memorable ending rather than general manner
to cap off
vsto go out with a bang
  • Informal
7 3.7

Finish something with a special final action like a show or speech

puts more weight on an exciting memorable finish rather than decisive closure
on a high note
vsto go out with a bang
6 4.2

To finish in a successful, happy way

focuses on a memorable, exciting finish rather than just positive success
good ending
vsto go out with a bang
4 1.7

A positive final part of a story or event that makes you feel satisfied

is more about an especially memorable and exciting ending than simple satisfaction
to end with a bang
vsto go out with a bang
  • Informal
2 4.6

To finish in an exciting and memorable way

shares identical meaning but uses a different two-word phrasing
to blow the doors off
vsto go out with a bang
  • Informal
1 7.2

To do much better than people expect

focuses on ending memorably rather than overall outperforming expectations
to cap it all off
vsto go out with a bang
  • Informal
5.7

To finish something in a very impressive way

is stronger, stressing a very memorable and exciting finish
dazzling finale
vsto go out with a bang
4.2

A very impressive end to a show that leaves the audience cheering

is about finishing memorably rather than the noun naming the final part

Antonyms

to end on a false note
7.0

Finish in a way that leaves people disappointed or unhappy

How Memorable

to go out with a bang
  • Informal
12 6.0
to end
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

go out with a bang infinitive
went out with a bang past
gone out with a bang past participle
going out with a bang present participle
goes out with a bang third person singular

Morphology

go + out + with + a + bang

The components give strong clues: 'go out' can mean 'end' and 'bang' evokes a loud or spectacular event, so a learner who knows the words can infer a sense of ending in a dramatic way. However, the conventionalized idiomatic meaning 'finish memorably or impressively' is a metaphorical extension of 'bang' and relies on the idiomatic slot 'with a bang', so the exact sense is not fully predictable for a B1 learner without prior exposure.

Etymology

The idiom go out with a bang may come from the image of ending a show or event with a loud bang, like fireworks, to make the finish exciting. So it means 'to finish' something in a very memorable or exciting way.