a crash course
A quick yet thorough tutorial on some topic or process. I got a crash course in answering the phones before the receptionist went on vacation. Hmm, I only know enough about Excel to give you a crash course. A: "Well, I suppose I could give you a crash course in swimming—basically, just enough to keep you from drowning." B: "That works for me!"
computer crash
An instance in which one's computer spontaneously turns off or becomes unresponsive. The computer crash this morning wiped out nearly four hours of work that I hadn't saved. The virus infected the entire network, causing company-wide computer crashes. I didn't get much done this morning after my computer crash because I had to wait for someone from IT to come and get it up and running again.
crash and burn
1. Literally, to crash and catch fire. Typically said of a car or airplane. Her car crashed and burned, but she survived the accident. A bus crashed and burned, and emergency workers are on the scene now. It's a miracle there were any survivors after that plane crashed and burned.
2. To fail at something completely and dramatically. I really hope this business venture doesn't crash and burn—I'll be broke if it does. My attempt to make a speech before the whole student body really crashed and burned when I got on stage and forgot everything I was supposed to say. As usual, the politicians are oblivious to the fact that one of their foolish plans is about to crash and burn.
3. In sports, to experience a significant accident or crash and thus have to withdraw from a competition. Alex isn't competing today because she crashed and burned on her practice run last night. Call a medic! Liz really crashed and burned after clipping that gate on the slalom course. I have no interest in running hurdles after I crashed and burned on them last year.
crash around
To make a lot of noise while doing something. Dad woke us all up when he came home late and promptly crashed around the dark living room. You can always count on Patty to crash around in the kitchen while she's cooking. Pots and pans have never sounded louder! A: "What's all that racket?" B: "Oh, it's probably my brother crashing around from room to room—I'm pretty sure he's incapable of doing anything quietly."
crash at (someone's) place
To sleep at someone else's house, apartment, etc., for a temporary period of time. A: "Where were you last night?" B: "I missed the last bus home, so I just crashed at Ben's place." You can crash at my place while you're visiting the city! Hey, can I crash at your place tonight? My wife and I got into a pretty big fight and need some time apart to cool off.
crash bang wallop
An interjection used for emphasis, especially to indicate loud noises. I was falling asleep on the couch when that framed photo fell off the wall and shattered, crash bang wallop! A: "Did you hear that crash bang wallop downstairs?" B: "Yeah, what was that?" C: "Sorry, I knocked over some pots and pans." That was quite the crash bang wallop! What fell over?
crash cart
The cart of medical equipment used when a patient "crashes" (experiences cardiac arrest). Get a crash cart in here, this patient needs immediate attention! I was so completely terrified that I had to look away as the doctors rushed into my mother's room with a crash cart. There always needs to be a crash cart close to the recovery room, in the event that a patient becomes unstable after surgery.
crash dive
1. noun A sudden descent, typically in an emergency situation. The phrase is usually applied to submarines and airplanes. Engine two is out, prepare for a crash dive! It's a miracle that everyone survived the plane's crash dive. I never had a fear of flying before that crash dive. Luckily, we didn't actually crash, but the whole ordeal was unbelievably terrifying
2. verb To make such a descent. My brain could barely comprehend that the our lives were in danger before the plane started to crash dive. With suspicious activity appearing on the radar, our best option was to crash dive. I'm sorry, men, but with the enemy closing in, we had no choice but to crash dive.
crash down
1. Literally, to fall down or collapse, often noisily. When the tree crashed down in the woods, it woke us all up. Sorry for the commotion—some pots and pans crashed down in the kitchen. My goodness, did somebody just crash down the steps? Is she all right?
2. By extension, to result in disaster or lose all stability amidst drastic problems. When I lied on my resume to get my dream job, I really hoped it wouldn't all come crashing down around me—but, of course, it did. I've felt like my life is crashing down around me ever since my husband's sudden death. When your child falls seriously ill, it feels like the whole world just crashes down around you.
crash into (someone or something)
To collide with someone or something, often violently. Another driver ignored a red light and crashed into us in the middle of the intersection. He didn't see the dining room table and crashed right into it. Dude, you're making so much noise—just turn on a light before you crash into something else and wake the whole house up!
crash out
To escape from some place. That criminal did crash out, but he was caught only a mile from the prison. Though we tried to detain the robber until the cops came, he was able to crash out. A: "What was that sound?" B: "Oh dear, the dog crashed out of her pen."
crash pad
A place where free accommodation is provided on a temporary basis. Because of our spare bedroom, our house has become something of a crash pad for visiting friends and family. Sure, you can always consider my place a crash pad when you're in the city. I'm reluctant to turn this into a guest bedroom, lest it become a crash pad for my husband's friends.
crash the gate
To attend an event, such as a concert, sports match, or party, without being invited or paying to get in. That's way too much money to see them in concert, let's just crash the gate and see them on the sly! There's always a few who crash the gate at my party and end up causing trouble. Yeah, like you're really going to be able to crash the gate at a World Series game, when security is at its highest.
crash the party
To attend a party without being invited. Come on, let's go crash the neighbors' party—I'm sure they won't mind us showing up. There's always someone who crashes the party and ends up causing trouble. A: "Hey, do you know those guys?" B: "No. Guess they crashed the party!"
crash through (something)
To physically break through some thing or barrier, often violently. The driver crashed through the guardrail and ended up in oncoming traffic. The attackers tore down a statue and used it to crash through the gates of the castle. If we let the puppy loose in here, won't he just crash through the baby's playpen?
crash to the floor
To fall to the floor, usually noisily. The picture frame fell off the wall and crashed to the floor. I only barely touched those pots and pans! I don't know why they crashed to the floor like that. This is life with toddlers—another day, another block tower crashing to the floor.
crash together
Of two or more things, to strike each other violently or noisily. A noun or pronoun can be used between "crash" and "together." Our cars crashed together in the middle of the intersection when the other driver ran a red light. My job in the percussion section of the marching band is to crash the symbols together. The kids are eagerly awaiting midnight, so they can go outside and crash pots and pans together in celebration of the new year.
crash with (someone)
slang To sleep at someone else's residence. Since it's such a long drive, I'm just going to crash with my friend tonight and then head home tomorrow. A: "Where were you last night?" B: "I missed the last bus home, so I just crashed with Ben." Hey, can I crash with you tonight? My wife and I got into a pretty big fight and need some time apart to cool off.
crashed
slang Drunk. Do you remember last night at all? You were really crashed! I'm past the point in my life where I want to spend every weekend at a bar getting crashed. I must have been crashed if I got up and did karaoke at the bar last night!
t-bone crash
An automobile accident in which one vehicle crashes into the side of another vehicle. Somebody call 911—there's been a t-bone crash! We've got some minor injuries, but thank goodness we're all OK. Not everyone walks away from a t-bone crash.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
crash and burn
1. Lit. [for a plane or car] to crash and burst into flames. The small plane crashed and burned just after it took off.
2. Fig. to fail spectacularly. Poor Chuck really crashed and burned when he made his presentation at the sales meeting.
crash around
to move around in a noisy way Stop crashing around. I'm trying to study. The people upstairs were crashing around and I couldn't get any sleep.
crash course (in something)
a short and intense training course in something. I took a crash course in ballroom dancing so we wouldn't look stupid on the dance floor.
crash down
(around someone or something) and crash down (about someone or something) 1. and crash in (on someone or something) Lit. [for something] to collapse on someone or something. The walls crashed in around the burning house. The branches of the tree crashed down on the roof. The old barn crashed down.
2. Fig. [for the structure and stability of one's life] to fall apart. Her whole life crashed down around her. Everything he was familiar with crashed down about him.
crash into someone or something
to bump or ram into someone or something accidentally or roughly. The student crashed into the door when it opened suddenly. The car crashed into a bus.
crash out (of some place)
to break out of some place, such as a prison. Max and Lefty crashed out of the state prison last week, but they were captured. They crashed out at midnight.
crash something together
to bring things together with great force, making a loud noise. Fred crashed the cymbals together and the sound could have wakened the dead. Don't crash those pans together. It drives me crazy.
crash through something
to break through something forcefully. The cows crashed right through the fence.
crash to the floor
to fall onto the floor and make a crashing sound. The tray of dishes crashed to the floor. Everything crashed to the floor and was broken.
crash together
to ram or move together with great force. The two cars crashed together, making a loud noise. The ships crashed together, opening a gaping hole in the side of one of them.
crash with someone
Sl. to spend the night at someone's place. I don't need a hotel room. I can crash with Tom. There is no room for you to crash with me.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
crash and burn
1. Fail utterly, as in Dale crashed and burned three times before passing the bar exam. This idiom alludes to a car or airplane that has crashed and caught fire. [Slang; 1970s]
2. In skateboarding and other sports, be taken out of competition by a collision, accident, or fall, as in Although she was favored to win the downhill race, she crashed and burned on her first run . [Slang; 1980s]
crash course
A short, intensive training course, as in Daisy planned to take a crash course in cooking before she got married. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]
crash pad
A free, temporary lodging place, as in The company maintains several crash pads for employees from out-of-town divisions. This expression originally referred to a place affording runaways, drug addicts, and the like somewhere to crash in the sense of "sleep." In time it also was used more broadly, as in the example. [Slang; 1960s]
crash the gate
Gain admittance, as to a party or concert, without being invited or without paying. For example, The concert was outdoors, but heavy security prevented anyone from crashing the gate. This term originally applied to persons getting through the gate at sports events without buying tickets. By the 1920s it was extended to being an uninvited guest at other gatherings and had given rise to the noun gatecrasher for one who did so. [Early 1900s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.