that crushed me

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that crushed me" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong emotional impact or disappointment caused by a specific event or statement. Example: "When I heard the news of her departure, that crushed me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

That crushed me.

The New Yorker

And that crushed me," Schilling says.

Forbes

It was a deep, dark despair and grief, a heavy wave that crushed me, that made me wonder if I would ever surface...

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"If I stayed in Hollywood, either nothing would have happened, and that would have crushed me, or everything would have happened, and that would have been worse.

The New York Times

That first loss crushed me.

Huffington Post

"This would have been one that would have crushed me to not be a part of," says Moore. "You knew it was going to be special, but you didn't know how special, and after the fact you go, 'wow, thank God, I was here.'" Thanks to the creative vision of these directors, so were we.

Huffington Post

"How can I distinguish myself from massive Web sites that can crush me in terms of return policies and free shipping?" Ms. Wenger asked.

The New York Times

In one intense passage he uses the metaphor of a vine slowly choking a vast oak to bring home the insidious power of mental illness: "In the end I was compacted and fetal, depleted by this thing that was crushing me without holding me.

The New York Times - Books

That crushing collapse imbued me with a tragic sense of life before I even had a life.

The New York Times

" 'That man is crushing me with his kindness,' " my mother said to us with a mocking smile.

The New Yorker

"Then and only then will I be able to shed the weight that has been crushing me," he told The Guardian.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that crushed me" to express a strong emotional impact caused by a specific event or piece of news. This phrase is best suited for situations where you want to convey a sense of being overwhelmed or deeply affected.

Common error

Avoid using "that crushed me" for minor inconveniences or disappointments. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact and make your writing sound melodramatic. Reserve it for genuinely significant emotional blows.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that crushed me" functions as an expression of emotional impact, specifically conveying a feeling of being overwhelmed or deeply saddened by a particular event or piece of information. The adverb "that" refers to a specific antecedent, while "crushed" metaphorically describes the emotional state.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that crushed me" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, primarily employed to convey a strong feeling of disappointment, sadness, or being overwhelmed by an event. According to Ludwig, the phrase appears mostly within News & Media contexts, often in direct quotes. While its usage is relatively infrequent, reserving it for genuinely impactful situations will prevent overuse. Consider related expressions like "that devastated me" or "that broke my heart" for variations in intensity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that devastated me

Emphasizes a profound sense of loss or destruction, conveying a stronger impact than the original phrase.

that broke my heart

Uses a common idiom to describe overwhelming sadness or grief.

that left me heartbroken

A more descriptive way of expressing feeling heart broken.

that shattered me

Suggests a sudden and forceful breaking of one's emotional state.

that demoralized me

Highlights the loss of confidence or morale as a result of the event.

that disheartened me

Emphasizes the loss of spirit or enthusiasm.

that wounded me

Implies a deep emotional injury.

that defeated me

Focuses on the feeling of being overcome or conquered by the situation.

that flattened me

Suggests a sense of being overwhelmed and rendered powerless.

that saddened me deeply

A more formal way of expressing profound sorrow.

FAQs

What does "that crushed me" mean?

The phrase "that crushed me" means that something caused you to feel extremely disappointed, saddened, or emotionally overwhelmed. It implies a significant negative impact on your emotional state.

How can I use "that crushed me" in a sentence?

You can use "that crushed me" to express how you felt after receiving bad news, experiencing a loss, or facing a significant setback. For example, "When I heard the news of the project's cancellation, "that crushed me"."

What are some alternatives to "that crushed me"?

You can use alternatives like "that devastated me", "that broke my heart", or "that shattered me" depending on the context.

Is "that crushed me" a formal or informal expression?

"That crushed me" is generally considered an informal expression suitable for casual conversation and personal writing. In more formal contexts, you might choose a more subdued phrase like "that deeply saddened me" or "that was very disappointing".