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To unite or band together for some common goal. All of the schools in our town will gang up to clean up local parks on Earth Day.
gang up (on someone)
to form into a group and attack someone. (Usually a physical attack, but it can also be a verbal attack.) We can't win against the robber unless we gang up on him. All right, you guys, don't gang up on me. Play fair!
1. Also, gang up with. Act together as a group. For example, The residents ganged up to make the neighborhood safer. [Colloquial; c. 1920]
2. gang up on or against . Join in opposition or attack against, as in The big kids were always ganging up on the little ones, or They all ganged up against the substitute teacher. [1920s]
1. To join together to attack or address some problem or issue: The various police agencies ganged up to fight the illegal drug trade.
2. gang up on To join together to bother, harm, or attack someone or something: The older children were always ganging up on the little ones.
3. gang up against To join together in opposition to someone or something: Whenever one corporation became too powerful, the others ganged up against it.