Tanked Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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tanked
[tæŋkd ]
Definition
slang usage
The term 'tanked' is often used informally to describe a significant failure or collapse, particularly in business or a project. It can also refer to consuming a large amount of alcohol, leading to drunkenness. In the context of investments or stocks, when a company's value 'tanks,' it means it has dramatically decreased in worth. Moreover, 'tanked' can describe a vehicle or equipment that is filled with a specific substance, like a fuel tank.
Synonyms
collapsed, dropped, failed, plummeted.
Examples of usage
- The project really tanked after the initial funding.
- He tanked the presentation due to his lack of preparation.
- The stock market tanked during the financial crisis.
- After a few drinks, he completely tanked at the party.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Pop Culture
- In popular movies and shows, characters often say someone 'tanked' after a night out, depicting the humorous side of overindulgence.
- The word is frequently used in sports commentary, where teams 'tanked' a match to improve their draft pick positions.
Psychology
- Being 'tanked' can lead to impaired judgment and higher risk-taking behavior, often analyzed in studies on alcohol consumption.
- Social drinking can create an environment where individuals feel pressured to perform, leading some to deliberately overindulge and become 'tanked.'
Language Usage
- The phrase 'tanked up' means to consume alcohol heavily before a social event, showing how language evolves around drinking culture.
- Variants of the term are used globally, with some regions having unique slang for the same state of being drunk.
Historical Context
- During the Prohibition era in the United States, many people would 'tank' as they sought speakeasies to drink illicitly.
- The slang usage of 'tanked' became more widespread during the rise of bar culture in the 20th century.
Origin of 'tanked'
Main points about word origin
- The term 'tanked' likely comes from 'tank,' meaning to put something in a container, which evolved to mean being in a state of heavy intoxication.
- In the late 19th century, 'tank' referred to a large container, and the slang meaning developed in the 1920s during Prohibition in the U.S.
The verb 'tank' originally comes from the late 19th century, where it referred to a container for liquids or tanks used for military vehicles. The slang usage likely developed in the United States during the 20th century, particularly among soldiers and sports enthusiasts, to denote something that fails or is unsuccessful. The transitive use to describe a decline, especially in financial contexts, emerged as the word evolved. Over time, 'tanked' became widely used in various informal contexts to capture a range of failures, particularly in business and social settings, reflecting its adaptability and the changing landscape of language.