Meaning & use
Shellacking
Last updated
Informal: a severe defeat or thorough beating, in sport, competition, or argument.
See it in a sentence
The home team took a shellacking, losing 42 to 3.
His business plan received a shellacking from the investment panel.
A note on using this word
Derived from 'shellac,' the resin varnish; the slang sense 'to coat thoroughly' evolved into 'to beat thoroughly.'
Words with a similar meaning
thrashingdrubbing
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Words with an opposite meaning
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