shellacking

[ shuh-lak-ing ]

noun

, Slang.

1. an utter defeat:

   a shellacking their team will remember.

2. a sound thrashing:

   His father gave him a shellacking for stealing the book.

shellacking

/ ˈʃɛlækɪŋ; ʃəˈlækɪŋ /

noun

1. slang.
   a complete defeat; a sound beating

   anyone who gives a shellacking to their bigger neighbours

Word History and Origins

Origin of shellacking¹

First recorded in 1880–85; shellac + -ing ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see take a shellacking .

Example Sentences

“We needed that,” he said, “to help us get over that shellacking we took in Game 2.”

From Los Angeles Times

For Scotland, this tournament is a learning curve and after commendable displays in defeats to Bangladesh and West Indies this was a bit of a shellacking.

From BBC

That was the year Democrats took, as Obama put, a “shellacking” in congressional elections.

From Los Angeles Times

There'll be another shellacking down the line if he doesn't change course.

From BBC

The Dodgers’ second straight loss — on the heels of Wednesday night’s 10-1 shellacking at the hands of the Angels in Anaheim, reduced their National League West lead over the San Diego Padres to four games.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beating
• blow
• breakdown
• collapse
• debacle
• destruction
• drubbing
• embarrassment
• failure
• killing
• loss
• massacre
• rout
• setback
• thrashing
• triumph