Definition

1. Verb:

   • To beat or strike repeatedly and violently: To hit someone or something many times with great force, often as a form of punishment or to cause damage.
   • To defeat decisively: To beat an opponent thoroughly in a competition or fight.
   • To move or flail about violently and uncontrollably: To make wild, twisting, or jerking movements, often due to pain, panic, or a lack of control.
   • To discuss or debate something thoroughly to reach a conclusion or solution: To talk about an issue in great detail until an agreement or understanding is reached.

2. Noun:

   • A violent beating or flailing movement: An act of thrashing.
   • A type of swimming kick: A fast, powerful kick used in treading water or certain swimming strokes.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:

  • The waves began to thrash against the side of the boat.
  • Our team thrashed their rivals in the final match.
  • The injured bird thrashed on the ground, unable to fly.
  • We need to thrash out the details of the contract before signing.

• Noun:

  • He gave the rug a good thrash to get the dust out.
  • The swimmer's powerful thrash kept him afloat.

Advanced Usage

• "to thrash something out": To discuss a problem or issue in great detail until a solution is found or a decision is made.

  • The committee will thrash out the final proposal next week.

• "thrashing around": Moving one's body or limbs violently and without control.

  • The patient was thrashing around in his sleep.

Variants and Related Words

• Thrasher (n): A person or thing that thrashes. Also, a type of bird or a fan of thrash metal music.
• Thrashing (n): A severe beating or a decisive defeat.
  • The team suffered a humiliating thrashing.

Synonyms

• Beat: To strike repeatedly.
• Flail: To wave or swing wildly.
• Trounce: To defeat heavily.
• Whip: To strike with a flexible object.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Thrash out: To discuss thoroughly to reach an agreement.

  • They spent hours thrashing out their differences.

• Thrash about/around: To move violently and uncontrollably.

  • The fish thrashed about on the deck.

Related Idioms

• Give someone a thrashing: To beat someone severely; to defeat someone decisively.
  • The older boy gave him a thrashing for stealing his lunch.

Noun

1. a swimming kick used while treading water

Verb

1. beat thoroughly and conclusively in a competition or fight
   • We licked the other team on Sunday!
2. beat the seeds out of a grain
3. move data into and out of core rather than performing useful computation
   • The system is thrashing again!
4. beat so fast that (the heart's) output starts dropping until (it) does not manage to pump out blood at all
5. dance the slam dance
6. move or stir about violently
   • The feverish patient thrashed around in his bed
7. give a thrashing to; beat hard