Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To bang on the door / to pound on the door: To hit a door repeatedly and forcefully, usually with a hand or fist, to make a loud noise. This action is typically done to demand attention, express urgency, anger, or to gain entry when a doorbell or knocking is insufficient.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Người đưa thư đập cửa rất mạnh vì bên trong tiếng nhạc quá lớn. (The mail carrier banged on the door very hard because the music inside was too loud.)
  • Cảnh sát đập cửa và hô to "Mở cửa ra!". (The police pounded on the door and shouted "Open up!")
  • Đừng đập cửa như thế, bạn làm tôi giật mình. (Don't bang on the door like that; you startled me.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase can be used metaphorically to describe persistently seeking an opportunity or demanding a response from an organization or authority.
  • Anh ấy đã đập cửa rất nhiều công ty xin việc. (He has been pounding on the doors of many companies seeking a job.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gõ cửa (v): to knock on the door. This is a gentler, more polite action.

  • Cô ấy gõ cửa nhẹ nhàng và chờ đợi. (She knocked on the door gently and waited.)

• Đạp cửa (v): to kick the door in; to break a door open by force.

  • Lính cứu hỏa phải đạp cửa để vào cứu đứa bé. (The firefighters had to kick the door in to rescue the child.)

Synonyms

• Bang on the door: To hit a door loudly and forcefully.
• Pound on the door: To strike a door repeatedly with heavy blows.
• Hammer on the door: To hit the door as if with a hammer, emphasizing force and repetition.

Related Idioms

• Đập cửa trái tim: (to knock on/pound on the door of someone's heart) A poetic expression meaning to try to win someone's affection or love.
  • Chàng trai đã cố gắng đập cửa trái tim cô gái. (The young man tried to win the girl's heart.)