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Shellacking: meaning, definitions and examples

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shellacking

 

[ ʃəˈlækɪŋ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

sports defeat

Shellacking refers to a severe or decisive defeat, often used in the context of sports. It implies that one team overwhelmingly outperformed the other, leading to significant point differences. This term can also extend beyond sports to describe any situation where an entity receives a considerable setback or loss. It's often used informally but carries a strong connotation.

Synonyms

beating, clobbering, defeat, drubbing, trouncing

Examples of usage

  • The team suffered a shellacking in the championship game.
  • After the shellacking, the coach needed to regroup his players.
  • They delivered a shellacking to their rivals last night.

Translations

Translations of the word "shellacking" in other languages:

🇵🇹 derrota completa

🇮🇳 बुरी हार

🇩🇪 schmerzhafter Verlust

🇮🇩 kekalahan telak

🇺🇦 погром

🇵🇱 dotkliwa porażka

🇯🇵 完敗

🇫🇷 défaite écrasante

🇪🇸 derrota aplastante

🇹🇷 ağır yenilgi

🇰🇷 처참한 패배

🇸🇦 هزيمة ساحقة

🇨🇿 drtivá porážka

🇸🇰 drvivá porážka

🇨🇳 惨败

🇸🇮 neuspeh

🇮🇸 hræðilegt tap

🇰🇿 жойқын жеңіліс

🇬🇪 მძიმე დამარცხება

🇦🇿 çətin məğlubiyyət

🇲🇽 derrota aplastante

Etymology

The term 'shellacking' likely originates from the 19th-century slang 'shellac', which referred to a type of varnish. The use of shellac as a verb meaning to defeat came into play during the mid-20th century, drawing an analogy between being 'shellacked' in a competition and objects being coated in a protective layer of shellac that makes them appear shiny and appealing. This metaphorical usage suggests that the losing party was overwhelmed or completely outclassed, much like how shellac protects and alters the surface of wood. Over time, 'shellacking' evolved into a popular colloquialism in American English, particularly in sports commentary, indicating that one side had decisively won or dominated another in a match or competition.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #41,211, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.