shellacking

[ shuh-lak-ing ]

/ ʃəˈlæk ɪŋ /

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See synonyms for: shellacking / shellackings on Thesaurus.com

noun Slang.

an utter defeat: a shellacking their team will remember.

a sound thrashing: His father gave him a shellacking for stealing the book.

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Origin of shellacking

First recorded in 1880–85; shellac + -ing¹

Words nearby shellacking

shelf talker, shelfware, Shelikof Strait, shell, shellac, shellacking, shellback, shellbark, shell bean, shell company, shellcracker

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use shellacking in a sentence

Hardly a shellacking, but it is an example of the way Arizona is trending after years of GOP dominance.
Arizona Republicans’ response to losses in November: Dig in on Trumpism.|Eugene Scott|February 2, 2021|Washington Post
The result was a thorough shellacking of the Democratic party from top to bottom.
The Progressives’ War on Suburbia|Joel Kotkin|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 2010, when Democrats lost the House, Obama called it a “shellacking.”
In Press Conference, Obama Turns Conciliatory—Mostly|Eleanor Clift|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For Paul, the shellacking is even worse, with Clinton beating him by 11 points overall and by 28 points with the kids.
Hillary's Got a Millennial Problem|Nick Gillespie|August 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Many politicians who had taken a shellacking would retreat to their home base and start rebuilding a career.
Mitt Romney’s Fast Fade After Losing the 2012 Presidential Race|Lauren Ashburn|November 8, 2012|DAILY BEAST
After 2010 shellacking, ‪Democrats belatedly embrace super PACs.
Democrats Belatedly Find the Benefits of Citizens United|Ben Jacobs|March 14, 2012|DAILY BEAST
By repeated oiling and shellacking one produces a French polish that is very durable and elastic.
Hunting with the Bow and Arrow|Saxton Pope
On no account finally connect up the battery to a circuit when shellacking the wire.
Electric Gas Lighting|Norman H. Schneider
Some days should be allowed for the water to evaporate before shellacking.
Woodworking for Beginners|Charles Gardner Wheeler
Shellacking of covers has been advocated by some librarians, but it is doubtful if it pays.
Library Bookbinding|Arthur Low Bailey

British Dictionary definitions for shellacking

shellacking

/ (ʃəˈlækɪŋ, ˈʃɛlækɪŋ) /

noun

slang, mainly US and Canadian a complete defeat; a sound beatinganyone who gives a shellacking to their bigger neighbours

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with shellacking

shellacking

see take a shellacking.

shellacking

noun Slang.

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Origin of shellacking

Words nearby shellacking

Words related to shellacking

How to use shellacking in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for shellacking

noun

Idioms and Phrases with shellacking