smashed away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "smashed away" is not commonly used in written English and may not convey a clear meaning.
It could be used in contexts where something is forcefully removed or destroyed, but it may require additional context for clarity. Example: "The storm smashed away the old shed, leaving nothing but debris."

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

But over time the ocean smashed away two grand piers as well as Portpatrick's future as a transport hub.

The Guardian

There has to be more to us than memories and quirks that can get smashed away so easily.

The New Yorker

New York was to be modern, increasingly vertical, the old neighbourhoods scraped and smashed away, and bold new expressways built to speed the traffic through.

The Economist

165th over: England 584-7 (Prior 111, Bresnan 35) Australia take the new ball, and hand it to Mitchell Johnson, whose lazy half-volley is smashed away by a rapidly emboldening (is that a word) Bresnan.

The Guardian - Sport

Troicki also had to cope with a bizarre let call at the start of the sixth game when a ball boy ran onto court thinking one of Murray's shots was not going over the net and collided with the Serb as he smashed away a winner.

Independent

A Verdasco forehand into the net duly gave Murray three match points, and the Scot smashed away a winner.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The Yankees splurged on offense last winter, determined to smash away the memory of the World Series, when anemic hitting doomed them to defeat.

The New York Times - Sports

Anchored to a window frame, near the ceiling, the woodpecker was smashing away at the wall with sideways strokes of its mighty bill.

The New York Times - Books

Federer, who lost only three points on his serve in the final set, held to love to close the match, smashing away a poor lob by Tsonga to seal the win.

The New York Times

The employees from Metinvest and DTEK out on the streets of Mariupol on a sunny morning insisted that their action was primarily to prevent the scenes from last week, - police headquarters burning, dead bodies in the streets, armoured personnel carriers (APCs) smashing away cars - from recurring.

Independent

Murray leads by one set to love Brown has this really intertaining schtick of, whenever he's hit a weak, loopy shot that Murray will surely smash away for an easy winner, appearing to give up the point before coming back to life at the last moment.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "smashed away", ensure the context clearly indicates both the forceful impact and the subsequent removal or destruction. For instance, "The wave smashed away the sandcastle" is more effective than "The event smashed away my hopes."

Common error

Avoid using "smashed away" in abstract or metaphorical contexts where a more nuanced verb might be appropriate. For example, instead of saying "The argument smashed away their friendship", consider using "destroyed" or "undermined".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "smashed away" is that of a phrasal verb. It combines the verb "smash" with the particle "away" to create a new meaning, indicating a forceful action resulting in removal or destruction. This is evident in Ludwig's examples, where physical objects are acted upon.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66.67%

Wiki

16.67%

Science

16.66%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "smashed away" is a phrasal verb denoting forceful removal or destruction. Ludwig AI considers it an acceptable phrase, though not especially common, primarily appearing in news and media contexts. While grammatically sound, it should be used judiciously, especially avoiding overly abstract applications. Consider alternatives like "destroyed completely" or "obliterated entirely" for increased precision and formality. When using "smashed away", ensure that the context clearly indicates both the forceful impact and subsequent removal or destruction for maximum clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wiped out

Indicates complete removal or destruction.

demolished forcefully

Focuses on the act of demolishing, highlighting the force used, similar to "smashed away" but less specific.

crushed violently

Focuses on the crushing action, which can be a way of smashing something away.

wrecked completely

Highlights the state of being wrecked after forceful impact or removal.

destroyed completely

Emphasizes the thoroughness of the destruction, differing from the forceful removal implied by "smashed away".

shattered into pieces

Describes the result of smashing, focusing on the fragmentation rather than the act of removal.

obliterated entirely

Suggests a more complete and total removal than "smashed away", often used in more dramatic contexts.

disintegrated rapidly

Suggests a breakdown of something into smaller parts quickly.

razed to the ground

Implies a leveling of something, like a building, differing from the more general removal suggested by "smashed away".

annihilated utterly

Conveys a sense of complete and utter destruction, more extreme than the physical removal of "smashed away".

FAQs

How can I use "smashed away" in a sentence?

You can use "smashed away" to describe something being forcefully removed or destroyed, such as "The storm "smashed away" the old fence" or "The player "smashed away" the winning goal".

What are some alternatives to "smashed away"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "destroyed completely", "obliterated entirely", or "demolished forcefully".

Is "smashed away" formal or informal?

"Smashed away" leans towards informal usage. For formal writing, consider more precise alternatives like "removed forcefully" or "destroyed completely".

What's the difference between "smashed away" and "broke away"?

"Smashed away" implies a forceful impact and removal, while "broke away" suggests a separation or detachment, not necessarily involving force.