smashing
noun
- break violently
- move violently, so as to break apart
adjective
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L340530 on Wikidata ↗Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈsmæʃɪŋ/
adj
Etymology: From smash + -ing. As a synonym for wonderful, the term first appeared in the United States in the early twentieth century, and possibly derives from the sense of smash used in smash hit and similar terms. Popular folk etymology connects the term to the broadly homophonous Irish is maith sin or Scottish Gaelic 's math sin ("that is good"), but this has been described as "improbable", and does not appear in the etymological dictionaries.
- Serving to smash (something).
“The boxer delivered a smashing blow to his opponent's head.”
- Wonderful, very good or impressive.
“We had a smashing time at the zoo.”
“Um, the reason for this call is because I haven’t told you for seven hours that I love you, which is a scandal! And even if we weren’t getting married tomorrow, I’d ask you to marry me anyway. Yes I would, because you are smashing!”
noun
Etymology: From smash + -ing. As a synonym for wonderful, the term first appeared in the United States in the early twentieth century, and possibly derives from the sense of smash used in smash hit and similar terms. Popular folk etymology connects the term to the broadly homophonous Irish is maith sin or Scottish Gaelic 's math sin ("that is good"), but this has been described as "improbable", and does not appear in the etymological dictionaries.
- The breaking or destruction of (something brittle) in a violent manner.
“Some Greek dance is traditionally accompanied by the smashing of crockery.”
“Incoherency had overtaken his speech, but he was unaware of it. Nor did he connect the smashing of a bottle with the generous curve of his transit.”
- The destruction or disintegration of something by being smashed.
- The hitting of something extremely hard.
- The complete and sudden ruin or ruination of something.
- An overwhelming victory or success.
- The deformation of something through continuous pressure.
- An act of sexual intercourse.
- A disastrous failure of something.
verb
Etymology: From smash + -ing. As a synonym for wonderful, the term first appeared in the United States in the early twentieth century, and possibly derives from the sense of smash used in smash hit and similar terms. Popular folk etymology connects the term to the broadly homophonous Irish is maith sin or Scottish Gaelic 's math sin ("that is good"), but this has been described as "improbable", and does not appear in the etymological dictionaries.
- present participle and gerund of smash