Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for slam on Thesaurus.com verb (used with or without object), slammed, slam·ming. to shut with force and noise: to slam the door. to dash, strike, knock, thrust, throw, slap down, etc., with violent and noisy impact: He slammed his books upon the table. Informal to criticize harshly; attack verbally: He slammed my taste mercilessly. Show More
a violent and noisy closing, dashing, or impact. the noise so made. Usually the slam . Slang slammer(def 2) . Informal a harsh criticism; verbal attack: I am sick of your slams. Informal Also called poetry slam . a competitive, usually boisterous poetry reading. a usually competitive performance involving multiple performers with short acts: puppet slams; a tap dance slam. Show More
Origin of slam 1 1650–60; perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish slamra to slam
Related forms un·slammed , adjective the winning or bidding of all the tricks or all the tricks but one in a deal. Compare grand slam(def 1) , little slam . an old type of card game associated with ruff. Show More
Origin of slam 2 First recorded in
1615–25; perhaps special use of
slam1 Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for slam smash ,
bat ,
hit ,
knock ,
beat ,
fling ,
slap ,
dash ,
swat ,
bang ,
batter ,
hurl ,
strike ,
crash ,
blast ,
belt ,
blow ,
pound ,
wham ,
burst Examples from the Web for slam Contemporary Examples of slam That may be, but experts say that “similarities” to other attacks is hardly a slam dunk.
And the information that the FBI has presented so far strikes many experts as hardly a slam dunk against Pyongyang.
Apparently, 2016 is not shaping up as a Democratic slam dunk.
For Best Actor in a Musical, Neil Patrick Harris seems like a slam dunk for Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
The only thing that disappointed me about that whole thing was that Franco removed the slam .
Historical Examples of slam A moment later the window above them was closed with a slam .
The door between the sitting-room and dining-room closed with a slam .
The outside door closed with a slam ; "Brother Obed" had fled.
Azuba entered the store in the way in which she did most things, with a flurry and a slam .
Keziah started, as if the slam of the door had been an electric shock.
British Dictionary definitions for slam verb slams , slamming or slammed to cause (a door or window) to close noisily and with force or (of a door, etc) to close in this way (tr) to throw (something) down noisily and violently (tr) slang to criticize harshly (intr; usually foll by into or out of) informal to go (into or out of a room, etc) in violent haste or anger (tr) to strike with violent force (tr) informal to defeat easily Show More
the act or noise of slamming slang harsh criticism or abuse Show More
Word Origin for slam C17: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse slamra, Norwegian slemma, Swedish dialect slämma
the winning of all (grand slam) or all but one (little slam or small slam) of the 13 tricks at bridge or whist the bid to do so in bridge See grand slam , little slam an old card game Show More
Word Origin for slam C17: of uncertain origin
a poetry contest in which entrants compete with each other by reciting their work and are awarded points by the audience Show More
Word Origin for slam C20: origin unknown
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
Word Origin and History for slam n.1 1670s, "a severe blow," probably from a Scandinavian source (cf. Norwegian slamre , Swedish slemma "to slam, bang") of imitative origin. Meaning "a violent closing of a door" is from 1817. Meaning "an insult, put-down" is from 1884. Slam-bang recorded by 1806 (also slap-bang , 1785). Slam-dunk is from 1976; early use often in reference to Julius Erving. Slam-dance is attested by 1987 (slam by itself in this sense is recorded from 1983).
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n.2 "a winning of all tricks in a card game," 1660s, earlier the name of a card game (also called ruff ), 1620s, used especially in whist, of obscure origin. Grand slam in bridge first recorded 1892; earlier in related card games from 1814; figurative sense of "complete success" is attested from 1920; in baseball sense from 1935.
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v. 1690s, "to beat, slap;" 1775 as "to shut with force," from slam (n.1). Meaning "throw or push with force" is from 1870. Meaning "say uncomplimentary things about" is from 1916. Related: Slammed ; slamming .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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