Cool MateGang vs The whole mob is after you
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Gang
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)B2noun
The whole mob is after you
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Gang
| Gang | The whole mob is after you | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɡæŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɡæŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðə hoʊl mɒb ɪz ˈɑːftər juː//🇺🇸 //ðə hoʊl mɑb ɪz ˈæftər ju// |
| Meaning | A group of people, especially young people, who spend time together and may do bad things. | A large group of people who are angry or aggressive. |
| Example | The gang of thieves was caught by the police during the raid. | The whole mob is after you for taking their money! |
| Register | Informal | Informal |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | street, local, armed, belong to, join, attack, fight, violence, in a/the gang, gang of, a member of a gang, street, local, armed, belong to, join, attack, fight, violence, in a/the gang, gang of, a member of a gang, usual, gang of, one of the gang | angry mob, chasing a mob, fear the mob |
| Antonyms | solitude, individual | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'gang' with 'group' — 'gang' often implies illegal activities., Using it in a formal context — 'gang' is informal., Not using it to refer to a specific group — be clear on which gang you're talking about. | Confusing 'mob' with 'group' - 'mob' implies aggression or anger., Using 'mob' in formal contexts - it is generally informal., Assuming 'mob' can refer to any group; it usually refers to a hostile crowd. |
| Usage notes | The word 'gang' is often used to refer to groups that engage in criminal or disruptive activities. It's informal and can be used in both positive and negative contexts, but avoid using it in formal situations. 'Gang' can have varying connotations based on context, so be careful when using it. | Used in casual conversations to indicate that many people are pursuing or wanting to confront someone, often in a negative way. |
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Frequently asked questions: Gang vs The whole mob is after you
What's the difference between Gang and The whole mob is after you?
Gang: A group of people, especially young people, who spend time together and may do bad things. The whole mob is after you: A large group of people who are angry or aggressive.
Which is more common: Gang and The whole mob is after you?
Gang is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Gang: The gang of thieves was caught by the police during the raid. The whole mob is after you: The whole mob is after you for taking their money!
Can I use Gang and The whole mob is after you interchangeably?
Not always. Gang and The whole mob is after you are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.