Boston local language
What does “bang a uey” mean?
Make a U-turn. Learn its pronunciation, local context, realistic examples, and when a more neutral phrase is safer.
Meaning and local context
bang a uey means Make a U-turn. in Boston local language. A familiar Boston and New England driving expression.
How it is used
It normally appears as an instruction while giving directions. One example is “Bang a uey at the next light.”, which corresponds to “Make a U-turn at the next traffic light.” in plain English.
Example interpretation
A second example is “We missed it, so bang a uey.”, where the same local sense is expressed as “We missed the turn, so turn around.”. Reading both examples together helps distinguish this regional meaning from other possible readings of the word or phrase.
Tone and register
A U-turn must still be legal and safe where attempted. This caution is part of understanding “bang a uey”: the definition tells you what it means, while the surrounding situation and tone help you judge whether using it yourself is appropriate.
- Pronunciation
- BANG uh YOO-ee
- Register
- Informal regional speech
- Place
- Boston
Examples in conversation
Bang a uey at the next light.
Make a U-turn at the next traffic light.
We missed it, so bang a uey.
We missed the turn, so turn around.