smackdown

smackdown

See also: smack down

English

WOTD – 30 January 2023

Etymology

From smack (“sharp blow, slap”, noun) +‎ down, from smack down (“to defeat utterly and decisively, especially in a humiliating way”, verb), popularized by:[1]

• the United States professional wrestling television programme WWF SmackDown! (first broadcast on April 29, 1999), now called WWE SmackDown and produced by World Wrestling Entertainment; and
• the phrase lay (or put) the smack down (“to start a fight”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈsmækdaʊn/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈsmækˌdaʊn/
• Hyphenation: smack‧down

Noun

smackdown (plural smackdowns) (originally and chiefly US, informal)

1. A physical or emotional confrontation; a battle, a fight; also, a bitter rivalry.
   • 2003 August, Dan Neil, “Dr. Hiroshi Shimizu’s 190-mph Electric Car Contraption”, in Scott Mowbray, editor, Popular Science, volume 263, number 2, New York, N.Y.: Time4 Media, ISSN 0161-7370, OCLC 818923164, page 73:

     Considering these numbers, which positively put the smackdown on GM's much celebrated fuel-cell concept vehicle, the Hy-Wire (built on the Autonomy chassis), Shimizu was understandably crestfallen when, at this year's Detroit auto show, he received but two orders for the KAZ.

   • 2004 March 2, Laura J. Burns, chapter 3, in Inherit the Witch (Charmed), New York, N.Y.: Simon Spotlight, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division, →ISBN, page 51:

     "I'm not looking for any more sisterly smackdowns." She sat up and rubbed her arms where Paige and Juliana had been holding her.

   • 2005, Kate Brian [pseudonym; Kieran Scott], chapter 10, in Megan Meade’s Guide to the McGowan Boys, New York, N.Y.: Simon Pulse, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division, →ISBN, page 148:

     Even screamed and launched himself at Doug, tackling him backward and slamming him into the ground. Megan shouted out as Finn and Sean raced toward the smackdown. By the time they got there, Evan had already slammed his fist into Doug's face multiple times.

   • 2006, Rachel Caine, Glass Houses (The Morganville Vampires; I)‎, New York, N.Y.: NAL Jam, New American Library, →ISBN, page 59:

     Monica had been challenged and, so far, hadn't exactly delivered the smackdown everybody—Claire included—had expected. Kind of weird, really. Unless Claire really struck some nerve besides the ones running through Monica's knuckles.

   • 2007, Paula Chase, So Not the Drama (A Del Rio Bay Clique Novel), New York, N.Y.: Kensington Books, →ISBN, page 285:

     "Well, I didn't get your messages," Mina said, embarrassed to admit her parents put the smackdown on all of her electronic communication because of that C on her Lit essay.

   • 2007, Jennifer Crusie [pseudonym; Jennifer Smith]; Bob Mayer, “Wednesday: Cranky Agnes Column #75: ‘It’s His Fault You’re Fat’”, in Agnes & the Hitman, New York, N.Y.: St. Martin’s Press, →ISBN, page 113:

     [T]he thought of Carpenter and Garth in a smackdown over a rack of country ribs was not a pretty one.

   • 2019 October 19, Robert Kitson, “England into World Cup semi-finals after bruising victory over Australia”, in The Guardian‎, London: Guardian News & Media, ISSN 0261-3077, OCLC 229952407, archived from the original on 2022-10-29:

     For the first time since 2007 England are into the last four and Saturday's smackdown with New Zealand will be some collision.

2. A significant or humiliating setback or defeat; a beating, a thrashing.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:beating

Related terms

• beatdown
• lay the smack down
• smack down (verb)

Translations

physical or emotional confrontation — see battle,‎ fight

bitter rivalry — see rivalry

significant or humiliating setback — see setback

significant or humiliating defeat — see beating,‎ thrashing

References

1. “smackdown, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, March 2022; “smackdown, n.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.