gung-ho

[guhng-hoh]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

wholeheartedly enthusiastic and loyal; eager; zealous.
a gung-ho military outfit.

adverb

in a successful manner.
The business is going gung-ho.

gung ho

/ ɡʌŋ həʊ /

adjective

extremely enthusiastic and enterprising, sometimes to excess
extremely keen to participate in military combat

gung-ho

Extremely enthusiastic or zealous: “He was gung-ho about going on a vacation to the beach.”

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of gung-ho¹

Introduced as a training slogan in 1942 by U.S. Marine officer Evans F. Carlson (1896–1947), from Chinese gōng hé, the abbreviated name of the Chinese Industrial Cooperative Society, taken by a literal translation as “work together”

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of gung-ho¹

C20: pidgin English, from Mandarin Chinese kung work + ho together

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Also, gung-ho. Extremely enthusiastic or dedicated, as in She was gung ho about her new job. This expression was introduced in 1942 as a training slogan for a U.S. Marine battalion, derived from what an American officer thought were Mandarin Chinese words for “work together.” It was actually an abbreviation for the name of Chinese industrial cooperatives.

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The team are less gung-ho under Slot than they were in the last couple of seasons under Jurgen Klopp, and now they tend to only flood players forward when they know they have got a better foundation in behind, if they do lose the ball.

From

Since joining the UFC in 2021 - although he has lost four of his six bouts - Chandler has developed into one of the most popular fighters on the roster because of his gung-ho fighting style and willingness to trade punches with opponents.

From

"But Tottenham have been resilient, shown they can defend, not been gung-ho and not leaving themselves open. This is exactly what Ange Postecoglou needs and it eases a little bit of pressure on them."

From

"The balance is better. They know they can't go gung-ho and always on attack. They're a bit better in balancing to keep the ball a bit longer nowadays. That's been a key, especially the way the away form has been very, very good."

From

She added: "Maybe I'll tip toe in, maybe just go gung-ho, I don't know."

From

gunge Gunite

Browse