shellacking
an utter defeat: a shellacking their team will remember.
a sound thrashing: His father gave him a shellacking for stealing the book.
Origin of shellacking
1Words Nearby shellacking
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use shellacking in a sentence
Iowa State has lost three consecutive games, including a 31-point shellacking at the hands of Texas Tech.
The Favorites To Watch And Upsets To Pick In The 2022 Men’s NCAA Tournament | Josh Planos | March 15, 2022 | FiveThirtyEightHardly 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 PostThe result was a thorough shellacking of the Democratic party from top to bottom.
In 2010, when Democrats lost the House, Obama called it a “shellacking.”
In Press Conference, Obama Turns Conciliatory—Mostly | Eleanor Clift | November 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTFor Paul, the shellacking is even worse, with Clinton beating him by 11 points overall and by 28 points with the kids.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTAfter 2010 shellacking, Democrats belatedly embrace super PACs.
Democrats Belatedly Find the Benefits of Citizens United | Ben Jacobs | March 14, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTBy repeated oiling and shellacking one produces a French polish that is very durable and elastic.
Hunting with the Bow and Arrow | Saxton PopeOn no account finally connect up the battery to a circuit when shellacking the wire.
Electric Gas Lighting | Norman H. SchneiderSome days should be allowed for the water to evaporate before shellacking.
Woodworking for Beginners | Charles Gardner Wheelershellacking 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
/ (ʃəˈlækɪŋ, ˈʃɛlækɪŋ) /
slang, mainly US and Canadian a complete defeat; a sound beating: anyone 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
Other Idioms and Phrases with shellacking
see take a shellacking.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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