slamming
- the switching of a customer's long-distance telephone company or other public utility without his or her authorization.
Origin of slamming
slam1
- 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.
- 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.
Origin of slam1
Examples from the Web for slamming
Contemporary Examples
Waking briefly a few times throughout the night, I heard sounds, voices, slamming doors.
Det. 2: (slamming his hand on the table and yelling) You hung her!
If the Texas senator runs for president, this is how the campaign begins—by slamming the man currently in the White House.
Stanley then went on to praise Curry after slamming her, a technique she would later use in her Rhimes piece.
Last weekend, the cattiest of Hollande's ministers went a step too far, slamming France's economic policy, and was finally ousted.
Historical Examples
Afterward his uncle came in a fierce humor, slamming the door.
Way of the LawlessMax Brand
A hatch stood open there, and he dropped through, slamming it after him.
In the Orbit of SaturnRoman Frederick Starzl
Primmie departed, slamming the door and muttering indignation.
Galusha the MagnificentJoseph C. Lincoln
Then he went into the kitchen, slamming the door with a bang.
The Woman-HatersJoseph C. Lincoln
He swung his fist heavily, slamming the Martian against the tree.
slam1
- 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
- the act or noise of slamming
- slang harsh criticism or abuse
Word Origin
slam2
- 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 bridgeSee grand slam, little slam
- an old card game
Word Origin
slam3
- a poetry contest in which entrants compete with each other by reciting their work and are awarded points by the audience
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for slamming
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).
slam
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.
slam
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.