Green’s Dictionary of Slang

to stink, to smell bad.

1906		Marvel 29 Dec. 676: In its time many things had been tumbled into it, and each had left its flavour behind. ‘It pongs!’ said Mr. Histed.
1927		W.E. Collinson Contemp. Eng. 23: Things didn’t smell, but ponged, niffed or hummed.
1932		Sun. Times (Perth) 6 Nov. 4/8: We’ll know the strong of ’em / When the miles pong of ’em / Gassing the farmers .
1944		in A. Marshall These Are My People (1957) 142: If the meat pongs I ditch it.
1957		G. Kersh Fowlers End (2001) 98: ‘And does she pong!’ ‘She smells bad?’ I asked. ‘Yes, she pongs.’.
1966		P. Pinney Restless Men 171: You pong like a camel-driver’s jockstrap. Why’n’t yer have a bath?
1971		K. Gilbert Cherry Pickers II i: Gawd. It pongs, mate!
1984		W. Ammon et al. Working Lives 115: Pooh, it pongs a bit.
1992		R.G. Barrett White Shoes 5: Annie always ponged of curry.
1996		A. Close Official and Doubtful 95: An Afghan coat. They didn’t half pong when you went out in the rain.
2003		N. Griffiths Stump 193: He has a tendency to pong a bit. Honest to God; he niffs. the fucker reeks.
2010		R. Easton Naked in Eden 55: A couple of freaks went through yesterday arvo. Bloody drongos ponged so bad I stayed upwind of ’em.
2020		G. Disher Consolation 34: Walked around it, examining the barred windows and the door with its external lock, then climbed aboard. ‘Pongs’.