bash

bash (someone's) brains in

To strike or assault someone violently and severely, typically on the head, such that it may cause the person severe injury or death. Primarily heard in US. I warned her that I was going to bash her brains in if she didn't stop insulting me. They left him to die after nearly bashing his brains in. Even if the police never catch them, the thugs that robbed that old man and practically bashed his brains in will rot in hell!

See also: bash, brain

bash (something) against (something)

To smack something against another surface. Billy went to the nurse after he bashed his head against the low ceiling in the art studio. He bashed his guitar against the amp and it splintered apart. I broke the plate when I accidentally bashed it against the countertop.

See also: bash

bash about

To treat or handle someone or something in a very rough, aggressive, or violent manner. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bash" and "about." Please don't come into the lab and start bashing all the equipment about like that—you're liable to break something! Some of the teachers have begun to suspect that the poor child is being bashed around at home by his stepfather. Hey, if you're going to borrow my phone, don't bash it around like that!

See also: bash

bash around

To mistreat something or someone; to treat forcefully or roughly. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bash" and "around." Please be careful not to bash my phone around when you borrow it. If I see my neighbor bashing around his pets, I will call the police. Even if the police never catch them, the thugs that robbed that old man and bashed him around will rot in hell!

See also: around, bash

bash in

To strike and dent or damage something. That accident bashed in the door of my car. The vandals bashed in the door and then spray painted it. Whoops, I seem to have bashed in the trash can when I accidentally backed into the car into it.

See also: bash

bash out

1. To strike something repeatedly in order to remove a dent from it. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bash" and "out." I'm sure my mechanic could bash out that dent in your door pretty easily. I'm skeptical that that kit he got online is really going to bash out the dent in his bumper. It sounds too good to be true. Don't worry, I'm sure I can bash it out—I just need to get my hammer.

2. To produce something, especially in writing, very hastily or thoughtlessly. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bash" and "out." I was getting paid $20 for every article I could produce, so I got to a point where I would bash out 10 or 15 in a couple hours and call my day's work complete. The film studio bashes a couple low-budget films out every year that they release direct-to-video. Why are you surprised you got a D on that essay? You bashed it out in study hall right before class!

3. To play something on the piano, especially clumsily or unskillfully. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bash" and "out." I wonder how many lessons I'll need before I can bash out an actual song. Whenever my neighbor is bashing out something on his piano, you can hear it all the way down the street. A: "What is that?" B: "I think your sister is trying to bash out 'Hot Cross Buns' on the piano."

4. To finalize or decide upon the details of some agreement, especially after lengthy deliberation, discussion, or debate. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bash" and "out." We're still trying to bash out the details of this contract. Management and the workers' union still haven't bashed out a new deal? It was such a close play that it took the umpires a while to bash a decision out.

See also: bash, out

bash the bishop

vulgar slang To masturbate. A term only applied to men. A: "Why is he all embarrassed today?" B: "Oh, his crush walked in on him bashing the bishop. How horrifying is that?" Jack talks on and on about how much of a ladies' man he is, but I bet he spends most nights bashing the bishop.

See also: bash, bishop

bash up

To strike and dent or damage something. That shopping cart really bashed up the door of my car. Whoops, I seem to have bashed up the trash can when I accidentally backed the car into it. The vandals bashed up the door and then spray painted it.

See also: bash, up

bashed

1. Battered or crushed. A: "Yikes, this box got totally bashed in transit." B: "Yeah, I hope nothing inside broke." There's not much we can salvage—most of the things in the room were bashed when the ceiling collapsed. I can't believe you sat on the volcano I made for science class—it's all bashed now!

2. slang Drunk. Do you remember last night at the bar at all? You were really bashed! Well, I must have been bashed if I got up and did karaoke at the bar! Help him get home, will ya? He started drinking whiskey, and now he's bashed.

See also: bash

bashing

The act of criticizing or slandering someone or something. A word that describes or designates the person, group, or thing being criticized is typically used before "bashing." How can people say such hurtful things? This queer bashing has got to stop! Can't imagine why all of you guys would be single—maybe your constant woman bashing has something to do with it? Kim's awful ex-husband is a lawyer, so brace yourself for a lot of lawyer bashing when she's around.

See also: bash

granny bashing

The physical, psychological, or verbal abuse or assault of an elderly person or persons. While the abuse of children garners a huge amount of attention from the public, granny bashing seems to go largely unnoticed in comparison. I'm more than happy to have my mother live with me. You never know how much granny bashing goes on in those nursing homes! I don't care if the woman is elderly and temperamental—granny bashing is never OK!

See also: bash, granny

have a bash

To try something (often for the first time). Primarily heard in Australia, Canada. A: "Do you want to try driving my car, to see how you like it?" B: "Yeah, sure, I'll have a bash at it." I don't usually like hot tea, but it's so cold out that I had a bash today. Let Sarah have a bash at the equation. I bet she can solve it!

See also: bash, have

have a bash at (something)

To try something, often for the first time. Primarily heard in UK. A: "Do you want to try driving my car, to see how you like it?" B: "Yeah, sure, I'll have a bash at doing it." I don't usually like hot tea, but it's so cold out that I had a bash at it today. Let Sarah have a bash at the equation. I bet she can solve it!

See also: bash, have

pommy-bashing

slang Mocking, criticizing, or ridiculing British people. "Pommy" is a potentially offensive Australian term for a British person. It might have originated from rhyming slang that involved "pomegranate" and "immigrant." Primarily heard in Australia, New Zealand. Sydney was a beautiful place to live, but I got fed up with all the pommy-bashing and moved back to Exeter.

queer bashing

slang The act of attacking someone, either physically or verbally, for being homosexual. Primarily heard in UK. How can people say such hurtful things? This queer bashing has got to stop!

See also: bash, queer

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

bash someone or something around

to treat someone or something roughly (physically or figuratively); to beat on or abuse someone or something (physically or otherwise). Stop bashing me around, and let's talk. The robber acted as though he was about to bash around his victims.

See also: around, bash

bash something against someone or something

to strike something against someone or something. He accidentallybashed his head against a beam. She bashed her sore elbow against Ted's forehead and both of them were hurt.

See also: bash

bash something in

to crush something inward or to the inside. Don't bash the door in! It sounds like someone is bashing in the door.

See also: bash

bash something up

to crash something; to strike something and damage it. She bashed the car up badly. How did she bash up the car?

See also: bash, up

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

have a bash

BRITISH, INFORMAL

If you have a bash at something, you try to do it. He's prepared to have a bash at discussing it intelligently. They asked me to be in the play, so I said I'd have a bash.

See also: bash, have

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

have a bash

make an attempt; try. informal

See also: bash, have

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

have a bash at (doing) something

(British English, spoken) make an attempt at something: I’m going to have a bash at fixing the car myself.

See also: bash, have, something

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

bash in

v.

1. To break or smash a hole in something: The robber bashed in the window with a crowbar. When I slipped, I fell against the door and bashed it in.

2. To strike a strong blow to something, causing it to penetrate a hard substance or surface: I didn't have a hammer, so I placed the nail over the wood and bashed it in with a wrench.

3. To make some indentation or hole in something by hitting it suddenly: I was so angry that I kicked the car and bashed a dent in it.

See also: bash

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

bash

(bæʃ)

1. n. a wild party; a night on the town. What a bash! I’m exhausted!

2. in. to party; to celebrate. Let’s go out and bash, how ’bout it?

3. tv. to criticize; to join in the destructive criticism of someone or something. A bunch of old Jonathan Computer fans love to bash Macrosoft whenever they can.

bashed

(bæʃt)

1. mod. crushed; struck. Give me that bashed one, and I’ll straighten it out.

2. mod. alcohol intoxicated. All four of them went out and got bashed.

See also: bash

bashing

n. criticizing; defaming. (A combining form that follows the name of the person or thing being criticized.) On TV they had a long session of candidate bashing, and then they read the sports news.

See also: bash

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.