slam-bang
Americanadverb
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with noisy violence.
He drove slam-bang through the garage door.
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quickly and carelessly; slapdash.
adjective
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noisy and violent.
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excitingly fast-paced, especially in a noisy and violent way; action-filled; thrilling.
a slam-bang ending to the movie.
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vigorous and fast but careless; slapdash.
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outstanding or powerful; excellent.
a slam-bang keynote address.
verb (used without object)
adverb
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another word (esp US) for slap-bang
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informal carelessly; recklessly
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of slam-bang
An Americanism dating back to 1830–40
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Selfon slowly unspools his plot with striking prose and characters whose frailties and strengths take precedence over slam-bang action.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 3, 2020
Carpenter manically orchestrates Plissken’s mission as a darkly funny free-for-all, loaded with slam-bang set pieces and memorable supporting turns by a rogues’ gallery of character actors.
From New York Times • Sep. 10, 2020
Compared with those pictures, “First Love,” with its chaste romantic interludes, slam-bang set pieces and occasional dubious-taste sight gags, might have seemed scrappy and tossed off.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 26, 2019
Herron’s stories always emphasize memorable, full-blooded characters and plot over slam-bang action.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 21, 2019
As I watched him, I saw a twinkle start in his eyes and suddenly he brought his chair down slam-bang flat on the floor.
From "Homesick" by Jean Fritz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
