smash-up

[ smash-uhp ]

/ ˈsmæʃˌʌp /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR smash-up ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a complete smash, especially a wreck of one or more vehicles.

Nearby words

Origin of smash-up

1855–60, Americanism; noun use of verb phrase smash up

smash

[ smash ]

/ smæʃ /

verb (used with object)

to break to pieces with violence and often with a crashing sound, as by striking, letting fall, or dashing against something; shatter: He smashed the vase against the wall.

to defeat, disappoint, or disillusion utterly.

to hit or strike (someone or something) with force.

to overthrow or destroy something considered as harmful: They smashed the drug racket.

to ruin financially: The depression smashed him.

Tennis, Badminton, Table Tennis. to hit (a ball or shuttlecock) overhead or overhand with a hard downward motion, causing the shot to move very swiftly and to strike the ground or table usually at a sharp angle.

verb (used without object)

to break to pieces from a violent blow or collision.

to dash with a shattering or crushing force or with great violence; crash (usually followed by against, into, through, etc.).

to become financially ruined or bankrupt (often followed by up).

to flatten and compress the signatures of a book in a press before binding.

noun

the act or an instance of smashing or shattering.

the sound of such a smash.

a blow, hit, or slap.

a destructive collision, as between automobiles.

a smashed or shattered condition.

a process or state of collapse, ruin, or destruction: the total smash that another war would surely bring.

financial failure or ruin.

Informal. smash hit.

a drink made of brandy, or other liquor, with sugar, water, mint, and ice.

Tennis, Badminton, Table Tennis.

an overhead or overhand stroke in which the ball or shuttlecock is hit with a hard, downward motion causing it to move very swiftly and to strike the ground or table usually at a sharp angle.
a ball hit with such a stroke.

adjective

of, relating to, or constituting a great success: That composer has written many smash tunes.

Origin of smash

1690–1700; perhaps blend of smack² and mash¹

SYNONYMS FOR smash

5. bankrupt. 11. crash.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR smash ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formssmash·a·ble, adjective

Synonym study

1. See break.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for smash-up

Which means that they do a smash-up job of planning that extra special, over-the-top anniversary or birthday extravaganza.
The Problem With Libertarian Women is Not Libertarian Men|Megan McArdle|January 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But I'm blessed if that whole gang didn't go as mum as a lot of railroad hands after a smash-up.
Shorty McCabe|Sewell Ford
The Kid confessed to clear his pal who was only slightly injured in the smash-up.
The Oakdale Affair|Edgar Rice Burroughs
"Skid, collision, run-over, smash-up—" Merry began helpfully.
The Bachelors|William Dana Orcutt

Not being satisfied with that you had to take a party of chorus girls out joy-riding and have a smash-up.
Mason of Bar X Ranch|Henry Bennett
The unsuspecting Billy told her that he had once been yachting there with a fellow and had had a smash-up.
The Story of Louie|Oliver Onions

British Dictionary definitions for smash-up

smash-up

/ informal /

noun

a bad collision, esp of cars

verb smash up

(tr, adverb) to damage to the point of complete destructionthey smashed the place up

smash

/ (smæʃ) /

verb

to break into pieces violently and usually noisily

(when intr, foll by against, through, into, etc) to throw or crash (against) vigorously, causing shatteringhe smashed the equipment; it smashed against the wall

(tr) to hit forcefully and suddenly

(tr) tennis squash badminton to hit (the ball) fast and powerfully, esp with an overhead stroke

(tr) to defeat or wreck (persons, theories, etc)

(tr) to make bankrupt

(intr) to collide violently; crash

(intr often foll by up) to go bankrupt

smash someone's face in informal to beat someone severely

noun

an act, instance, or sound of smashing or the state of being smashed

a violent collision, esp of vehicles

a total failure or collapse, as of a business

tennis squash badminton a fast and powerful overhead stroke

informal

something having popular success
(in combination)smash-hit

slang loose change; coins

adverb

with a smash

Word Origin for smash

C18: probably from sm (ack ² + m) ash

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 smash-up

smash-up

"collision," 1841, from verbal phrase; see smash (v.) + up (adv.).

smash

1759, "break to pieces," earlier "kick downstairs" (c.1700), probably of imitative origin (cf. smack (v.), mash (v.), crush (v.)). Meaning "act with crushing force" is from 1813; that of "strike violently" is from 1835. Tennis sense is from 1882. Smash-and-grab (adj.) is first attested 1927.

smash

1725, "hard blow," from smash (v.). Meaning "broken-up condition" is from 1798; that of "failure, financial collapse" is from 1839. Tennis sense is from 1882. Meaning "great success" is from 1923 ("Variety" headline, Oct. 16, in reference to Broadway productions of "The Fool" and "The Rise of Rosie O'Reilly").

smash-up

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of smash-up

smash

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

adjective

Origin of smash

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for smash-up

smash-up

noun

verb smash up

smash

verb

noun

adverb

Word Origin for smash

smash-up

smash

smash