Smashings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. To strike forcefully, causing something to break or be crushed; in sports, a term for powerful or impressive shots that result in points; an informal term for great success or enjoyment in an activity or event
2. To hit something with great force so that it shatters or collapses; in athletic contexts, refers to particularly effective hits or plays; also, a colloquial expression for joyous occasions or achievements
3. To collide with enough power to break apart; in competitive games, it denotes skillfully executed plays; additionally, it symbolizes exuberance or triumph in social festivities or performances

Etymology: "Smashings" is the plural of "smashing", which is a verb-derived form of "smash" with the suffix "-ing". The adjectival sense meaning wonderful or excellent is the one most people know, and it first appeared in the United States in the early twentieth century. Its likely source is the phrase "smash hit", where "smash" already meant a huge success, so a "smashing" time became one that felt like a hit. A popular explanation links the word to the Irish "is maith sin" or Scottish Gaelic "'s math sin", both meaning "that is good". The sounds do resemble one another, but this idea is generally considered unlikely, and it does not appear in standard etymological dictionaries. The plural form is used mainly for sporting shots and for multiple great successes or pleasures, rather than for the adjective itself. The noun sense, referring to powerful shots that score points, follows the same logic: a shot that strikes hard enough to decide the point.

Synonyms: crashings, breakings, collisions, shatterings

Antonyms: repairs, fixings, mendings