all to smash
Completely destroyed or ruined, either literally or figuratively. After the accident, my car was all to smash. Their company is all to smash now that the stock market has plummeted. Boy, it's all to smash now. First, there was the issue with the caterer, and now half the guests aren't coming.
blow (something) up out of proportion
To indicate, imply, or argue that something is more important or consequential than it really is; to overinflate the importance of something. Don't blow this up out of proportion, Bill—I was late because of traffic, and that's it. It's just a small inconvenience, don't blow it up out of proportion and make it sound like the end of the world. Of course she's mad at me because I didn't call her back—you can always count on my mom to blow something up out of proportion!
blow to smithereens
cliché "Smithereens," first appearing in English in 1829 as "smiddereens," is likely derived from the Irish word smidirín or smidiríní, meaning "fragment."
1. To be smashed or blasted into tiny, fragmentary pieces. The soldiers detonated the explosives and watched the vehicle blow to smithereens. The gunpowder stored below somehow ignited, and the entire ship blew to smithereens. A: "Do the authorities have any idea why the house just blew to smithereens?" B: "They think a gas leak was part of the problem."
2. To smash or blast someone or something into tiny pieces. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "blow" and "to." The demolition crew blew the building to smithereens in a matter of seconds. The typhoon's gale-force winds have been blowing the village to smithereens over the last few days. I've heard there are still landmines around here, so we'll have to be careful. One wrong step will blow us to smithereens!
smash (one's) face in
To strike one in the face or the head with intense, violent force. The cops arrested the man after he threatened to smash their faces in. Where's the guy who insulted you? I'm gonna go smash his face in!
smash (one's) head in
To strike one in the head or the head with intense, violent force. The cops arrested the man after he threatened to smash their heads in. Where's the guy who insulted you? I'm gonna go smash his head in!
smash (something) to smithereens
To break or destroy something into tiny, fragmentary pieces. "Smithereens," first appearing in English in 1829 as "smiddereens," is likely derived from the Irish word "smidirín" or "smidiríní," meaning "fragment." The demolition crew brought in the wrecking ball, which smashed the house to smithereens in a matter of hours. The typhoon's gale-force winds have been smashing the village to smithereens over the last few days.
smash down
1. To create a heavy, audible impact as a result of falling. They threw the desk over the side of the building, and it smashed down on the concrete below.
2. To bring someone or something down (onto something else) with great force. A noun or pronoun can be used between "smash" and "down." The crane smashed down the wrecking ball onto the roof of the condemned building. He lifted the man up into the air and smashed him down onto the ground.
3. To destroy a physical structure. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "smash" and "down." The police smashed down the door with their battering ram. The giant monster started smashing buildings down in the city center.
4. To dismantle or do away with some political or societal obstacle. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "smash" and "down." Our organization's goal is to smash down the barriers keeping marginalized groups on the fringes of society. She is just one of many athletes who are constantly smashing stereotypes down about what a woman can or cannot accomplish.
smash hit
A huge, widespread success. Usually said of entertainment media, such as books, films, plays, songs, etc. After the smash hit of her first novel, Mary was under a lot of pressure for her second effort to be just as successful. The band had been slowly gaining popularity over the years, but it wasn't until their smash hit in 1987 that they hit the mainstream.
smash in
1. To cause something to crush, crumple, or collapse by striking it or exerting a lot of force on it. A noun or pronoun can be used between "smash" and "in." The demolition crew smashed in the house with a wrecking ball. Stop standing on the box like that, or you'll end up smashing it in!
2. To strike or collide with someone in a particular body part with great, violent force. A noun or pronoun can be used between "smash" and "in" to indicate who is being hit. She lobbed a brick over the wall, smashing a man on the other side in the face. The boxer smashed her opponent in the ribs with a devastating left hook.
smash in (one's) face
To strike one in the face or the head with intense, violent force. The cops arrested the man after he threatened to smash in their faces. Where's the guy who insulted you? I'm gonna go smash in his face!
smash in (one's) head
To strike one in the head or the head with intense, violent force. The cops arrested the man after he threatened to smash in their heads. Where's the guy who insulted you? I'm gonna go smash in his head!
smash into (someone or something)
1. To collide into someone or something with great, violent force. The poor kid was racing around the house and smashed into the coffee table at full speed. A cyclist smashed into me on the way to work this morning. I think I may have a cracked rib!
2. To cause someone or something to collide into someone or something with great, violent force. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "smash" and "into." The driver lost control of the vehicle and smashed it into the side of a building. The professional wrestler picked up his opponent and smashed him into the mat.
smash out of (something or some place)
To escape from something or some place by breaking through some barrier with great, violent force. The bear became enraged and smashed out of its holding pen. The suspect smashed out of the garage in a white SUV.
smash the teapot
To resume drinking alcohol after a time of sobriety. The "teapot" here is likely a reference to the term "teetotaler"—one who does not drink alcohol. A: "But Paul's been sober for years. Has he really smashed the teapot?" B: "Yes! I saw him drunkenly stumbling out of the pub last night."
smash through (something)
1. To collide with and break through something with great, violent force. The suspect smashed through the police barrier in a stolen SUV. I nearly lost my life from fright when a bird came smashing through our living room window.
2. To cause someone or something to collide with and break through something with great, violent force. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "smash" and "through." Someone smashed a rock through my windscreen while we were in the movie theater! The pro wrestler picked up his opponent and smashed him through the wooden table on the ground outside the ring.
smash up
1. To break something into small pieces with great, violent force. A noun or pronoun can be used between "smash" and "up." My father went on a rampage around the house, smashing up anything he could get his hands on. The disgruntled ex-employee stole a photocopier from the office on his last day at work and smashed it up with a baseball bat in a field beside the office.
2. To cause a lot of damage or destruction to something or within some place. A noun or pronoun can be used between "smash" and "up." He was arrested for smashing up a local bar after getting into an argument with its owner. Some punks came around and smashed my car up during the night.
3. To beat someone with brutal, violent force. A noun or pronoun can be used between "smash" and "up." The gang surrounded the poor man and smashed him up so badly that he had to be hospitalized.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
blow someone or something to smithereens
and blow someone or something to bits; blow someone or something to piecesLit. to explode someone or something into tiny pieces. (See also
blow something to smithereens.)
The bomb blew the ancient church to smithereens. The explosion blew the tank to bits. The explosion blew the car to pieces. blow something to smithereens
and blow something to bits; blow something to piecessmash hit
a play, movie, musical, etc., that is a big success. Her first book was a smash hit. The second was a disaster. A smash hit doesn't always make people rich.
smash into something
to crash into something; to bump or crash into something. Judy smashed into the coffee table and hurt her leg. The car smashed into the side of a bus and caused a lot of damage.
smash out of something
to break [one's way] out of something. The prisoner smashed out of his cell and ran. The horse smashed out of its stable.
smash someone's face in
1. Fig. to crush someone's face. The accident smashed Harry's face in, and he had to have extensive surgery. The accident smashed in his face.
2. Inf. to strike someone in the face. You had better stop that or I will smash your face in. Max tried to smash in Lefty's face.
smash something in
to crush something inward; to make something collapse inward by striking it. Andy gave one good kick and smashed the box in. Liz smashed in the window.
smash something up
to break something up; to destroy something. I hope the children don't smash any of the good china up if we use it tonight. The driver fell asleep and smashed up the car.
smash through something
to break [one's way] through some sort of barrier. The fleeing car smashed through the police barrier. Max got angry and smashed through the office door.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.