# smashing

/ˈsmæʃɪŋ/ (US) · /smˈæʃɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/smashing
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. wonderful

adjective · CEFR B2 · British English · Informal

very good, wonderful, or impressive.

For teachers: denoting excellence or high quality; primarily used as a predicative or attributive adjective in British English.

- We had a smashing time at the party last night.
- The critics agreed that her performance was absolutely smashing, marking a triumphant return to the West End stage.

Usage: Commonly used with 'time', 'idea', or 'job'.

### 2. breaking into pieces

noun · CEFR B2

the act of breaking something brittle, like glass, into many small pieces.

For teachers: the action of violently breaking or shattering a brittle object into fragments.

- The sudden smashing of glass in the kitchen woke everyone up.
- The investigation focused on the deliberate smashing of the shop windows during the midnight protests.

### 3. sexual intercourse

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Vulgar

a very informal and rude way to talk about having sex.

For teachers: an act of sexual intercourse; highly informal and potentially offensive depending on the social context.

- He made a crude joke about smashing after the date.
- The lyrics were criticized for their repetitive references to smashing, which many found unnecessarily graphic for a pop song.

Teaching tip: This sense is highly informal and can be seen as disrespectful or objectifying; learners should avoid using it in most social settings.

## Examples

- We had a smashing time at the party.
- The team did a smashing job on the presentation and received a standing ovation from the board.
- The critic described the performance as a smashing success, noting that the lead actor's range was unlike anything seen on the local stage in decades.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.