crashing
Definition
- Adjective:
- Used as an intensifier: An informal adjective used before another adjective or noun to add strong emphasis, often implying that something is extreme, complete, or utter. It is frequently used in a negative or critical context.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- The meeting was a crashing bore. (The meeting was extremely boring.)
- He made a crashing mistake that cost the company millions. (He made a complete and utter mistake.)
- It was a crashing disappointment to learn the concert was canceled. (It was a total disappointment.)
Advanced Usage
- "crashing" as an intensifying adjective: This usage is informal and somewhat dated or literary. It is almost always used attributively (before the noun it modifies) to add forceful emphasis.
- She had the crashing cheek to ask for a raise after being late every day. (She had the absolute nerve to ask.)
Variants and Related Words
- Crash (verb): To collide violently with something; to fail suddenly, as in a computer system; to decline suddenly in value.
- The car crashed into the barrier.
- Crash (noun): A sudden loud noise; a violent collision; a sudden failure or decline.
- The stock market crash of 1929.
- Crashingly (adverb): An adverb form, though very rare.
- The plan failed crashingly.
Synonyms
- Absolute: Used for emphasis, especially when describing something negative (e.g., an absolute disaster).
- Complete: Having all necessary parts; total (e.g., a complete failure).
- Utter: Complete; absolute (e.g., utter nonsense).
- Blinking / Bally / Flaming: Other informal, dated intensifiers with similar usage (e.g., a blinking idiot).
Related Phrases/Idioms
- Crashing bore: A very common collocation meaning an extremely boring person or thing.
- That lecture on tax law was a crashing bore.
- Crashing success: Less common, but used for positive extreme emphasis.
- The product launch was a crashing success.
Adjective
-
informal intensifiers
-
what a bally (or blinking) nuisance
-
a bloody fool
-
a crashing bore
-
you flaming idiot
-
