Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense thrashes, present participle thrashing, past tense, past participle thrashed
1. verb
If one player or team thrashes another in a game or contest, they defeat them easily or by a large score.
[informal]
The team thrashed their opponents 5-nil. [V n amount]
[Also VERB noun]
2. verb
If you thrash someone, you hit them several times as a punishment.
The school has dismissed the teacher, who is said to have thrashed pupils with sticks. [VERB noun]
3. verb
If someone thrashesabout, or thrashes their arms or legs about, they move in a wild or violent way, often hitting against something. You can also say that someone's arms or legs thrashabout.
Many of the crew died a terrible death as they thrashed about in shark-infested waters. [VERB adverb/preposition]
...dreams so vivid that I thrash inside my sleeping bag and cry out. [VERB adverb/preposition]
Jimmy collapsed on the floor, thrashing his legs about like an injured racehorse. [VERB noun adverb/preposition]
Synonyms: thresh, flail, jerk, plunge More Synonyms of thrash
4. verb
If a person or thing thrashes something, or thrashesat something, they hit it continually in a violent or noisy way.
...a magnificent paddle-steamer on the mighty Mississippi, her huge wheel thrashingthe muddy water. [VERB noun]
Three shaggy-haired men thrash tunelessly at their guitars. [VERB + at]
Thrash is also a noun.
...the thrash of the horses' hooves.
5. countable noun
A thrash is a party.
[British, informal]
Harry always invited Charlie when he threw a thrash in his office.
6. See also thrashing
Phrasal verbs:
See thrash out
More Synonyms of thrash
thrash in British English
(θræʃ)
verb
1. (transitive)
to beat soundly, as with a whip or stick
2. (transitive)
to defeat totally; overwhelm
3. (intransitive)
to beat or plunge about in a wild manner
4. (intransitive)
to move the legs up and down in the water, as in certain swimming strokes
5.
to sail (a boat) against the wind or tide or (of a boat) to sail in this way
6. another word for thresh
noun
7.
the act of thrashing; blow; beating
8. informal
a party or similar social gathering
Word origin
Old English threscan; related to Old High German dreskan, Old Norse thriskja
thrash in American English
(θræʃ)
verb transitive
1.
thresh
2.
to make move violently or wildly; beat
a bird thrashing its wings
3.
to give a severe beating to; flog
4.
to defeat overwhelmingly
verb intransitive
5.
thresh
6.
to move or toss about violently, flinging the arms, legs, etc. about wildly or vigorously
thrashing in agony
7.
to make one's way by thrashing
noun
8.
the act of thrashing
9.
a style of heavy metal rock that is played very fast with minimal melodic and harmonic components, rapidly shouted lyrics about death, destruction, insanity, etc., and both musicians and audience thrashing about, as in slam dancing or moshing
see also speed metal
SIMILAR WORDS: beat
Idioms:
thrash out
thrash over
Word origin
ME threschen < OE therscan, akin to Ger dreschen, to thresh < IE base *ter-, to rub > throw
Examples of 'thrash' in a sentence
thrash
Here he could thrash about without getting hurt - or hurting anyone else.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But in recent weeks the companies have thrashed out the terms of a higher agreed offer.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The three party leaders will meet today to thrash out the details and satisfy their concerns.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He would move his arms suddenly and thrash about in bed.
The Sun (2016)
The sides must thrash out an agenda before agreeing to fresh talks.
The Sun (2013)
The final details will be thrashed out tonight.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
At night he would thrash about in bed.
The Sun (2015)
Sources claim they are still thrashing out the details of the announcement.
The Sun (2011)
And they get thrashed about more than cars due to the nature of the job.
The Sun (2016)
We were spotted and soundly thrashed.
Max Arthur Lost Voices of the Edwardians: 19011910 in the words of the Men & Women Who WereThere (2006)
The deal was thrashed out by bosses and unions as the British car industry faces a crisis.
The Sun (2009)
It is a further example of the way Capello is thrashing around in the dark.
The Sun (2008)
The teams thrashed out policy details on education, tax and green issues.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He met Canaries officials last night to thrash out personal terms.
The Sun (2012)
He got soundly thrashed by four blokes whacking the hell out of some dustbin lids called Junk.
The Sun (2012)
We can't resist one last thrash.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
During this period, both sides would thrash out the terms for preliminary negotiations over a permanent halt.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It says something about our culture that the biggest film released during our biggest celebration of love is a story about one person mercilessly thrashing another.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
I upheld the pride of Britain by being soundly thrashed at pool.
Ben Nimmo IN FORKBEARD'S WAKE: Coasting Round Scandinavia (2003)
Councils will also be forced to implement pay equality measures under the public sector reform deal thrashed out in talks that ended at 5am yesterday.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But Magician could be an Epsom ace judging by the way he thrashed his rivals.
The Sun (2013)
The two sides have been thrashing out the fine details of his performance - and the all-important pay cheque.
The Sun (2009)
These are where the commercial capital's movers and shakers met to socialise, pitch for cash and thrash out deals.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
A team stripped of core players were thrashed by the European champions who cruised into the quarter-finals with a game to spare.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
thrash
British English: thrash VERB
If one player or team thrashes another in a game or contest, they defeat them easily or by a large score.
The team were thrashed by their rivals last night.
American English: thrash
Brazilian Portuguese: surrar
Chinese: > 轻松击败在比赛或竞赛中
European Spanish: dar una paliza a
French: battre à plate coutureN
German: vernichtend schlagen
Italian: stracciare
Japanese: 打ち負かす
Korean: 완파하다
European Portuguese: surrar
Latin American Spanish: dar una paliza a
Chinese translation of 'thrash'
thrash
(θræʃ)
vt
(= hit) 鞭打 (biāndǎ)
(inf, = defeat) 击(擊)溃(潰) (jīkuì)
1 (verb)
Definition
to defeat totally
They thrashed their opponents 5-0.
Synonyms
defeat
His troops defeated the opposing army.
beat
He was easily beaten into third place.
hammer (informal)
He hammered the young left-hander in four straight sets.
stuff (slang)
tank (slang)
crush
overwhelm
One massive assault would overwhelm the weakened enemy.
slaughter (informal)
He slaughtered his opponent in three sets.
lick (informal)
He might be able to lick us all in a fair fight.
paste (slang)
rout
The Norman army routed the English opposition.
maul
The troops were severely mauled before evacuating the island.
trounce
Australia trounced France by sixty points to four.
clobber (slang)
run rings around (informal)
wipe the floor with (informal)
make mincemeat of (informal)
blow someone out of the water (slang)
drub
beat someone hollow (British, informal)
2 (verb)
Definition
to beat (someone), esp. with a stick or whip
He was thrashed with a cane until his skin turned red.
Synonyms
beat
He lost the boxing match and was badly beaten by his opponent.
wallop
She walloped me over the head with a cushion.
whip
Eyewitnesses claimed he whipped the horse up to 16 times.
hide (informal)
belt (informal)
Is it true that she belted George in the stomach?
leather
They leathered me because they thought I could tell them where she'd gone.
tan (slang)
I'll tan his backside for him.
cane
lick (informal)
paste (slang)
birch
flog
He never flogs his horse no matter how slowly she goes.
scourge
They were scourging him severely.
spank
clobber (slang)
She clobbered him with a vase.
lambast(e)
flagellate
horsewhip
give someone a (good) hiding (informal)
drub
take a stick to
beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)
3 (verb)
Definition
to move about in a wild manner
He collapsed on the floor, thrashing his legs about.
Synonyms
thresh
flail
His arms were flailing in all directions.
jerk
plunge
toss
I felt as though I'd been tossing and turning all night.
squirm
Mentioning religion is a sure way to make him squirm.
writhe
He was writhing on the floor in agony.
heave
Heave a brick at the telly.
toss and turn
phrasal verb
See thrash something out
Additional synonyms
in the sense of beat someone hollow
Definition
to defeat someone thoroughly
Synonyms
defeat,
worst,
overcome,
hammer (informal),
thrash,
rout,
outdo,
trounce
in the sense of belt
Definition
to give (someone) a sharp blow
Is it true that she belted George in the stomach?
Synonyms
strike,
beat,
punch,
deck (slang),
bang,
bash (informal),
sock (slang),
smack,
thump,
clout (informal),
whack,
thud,
clobber (slang),
wallop (informal),
thwack,
lay one on (slang),
beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)
in the sense of clobber
Definition
to batter
She clobbered him with a vase.
Synonyms
batter,
beat,
assault,
smash,
bash (informal),
lash,
thrash,
pound,
beat up (informal),
wallop (informal),
pummel,
rough up (informal),
lambast(e),
belabour,
duff up (informal),
beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)
Synonyms of 'thrash'
thrash
Explore 'thrash' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of flail
Definition
to wave about wildly
His arms were flailing in all directions.
Synonyms
thrash,
beat,
windmill,
thresh
in the sense of flog
Definition
to beat harshly, esp. with a whip or stick
He never flogs his horse no matter how slowly she goes.
Synonyms
beat,
whip,
lash,
thrash,
whack,
scourge,
hit hard,
trounce,
castigate,
chastise,
flay,
lambast(e),
flagellate,
punish severely,
beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)
in the sense of hammer
Definition
to defeat heavily
He hammered the young left-hander in four straight sets.
Synonyms
defeat,
beat,
thrash,
stuff (slang),
master,
worst,
tank (slang),
lick (informal),
trounce,
clobber (slang),
run rings around (informal),
wipe the floor with (informal),
blow out of the water (slang),
drub
in the sense of heave
Definition
to throw (something heavy) with effort
Heave a brick at the telly.
Synonyms
throw,
fling,
toss,
send,
cast,
pitch,
hurl,
sling (informal)
in the sense of leather
Definition
to whip as if with a leather strap
They leathered me because they thought I could tell them where she'd gone.
Synonyms
hit,
beat,
strike,
belt (informal),
pound,
break,
knock,
punch,
batter,
bruise,
lash,
thrash,
lick (informal),
flog,
pelt,
clobber (slang),
thwack,
lambast(e),
lay one on (slang),
drub,
beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)
in the sense of lick
Definition
to defeat
He might be able to lick us all in a fair fight.
Synonyms
beat,
defeat,
overcome,
best,
top,
stuff (slang),
tank (slang),
undo,
rout,
excel,
surpass,
outstrip,
outdo,
trounce,
clobber (slang),
vanquish,
run rings around (informal),
wipe the floor with (informal),
blow out of the water (slang)
in the sense of maul
Definition
to handle roughly or clumsily
The troops were severely mauled before evacuating the island.
Synonyms
ill-treat,
beat,
abuse,
batter,
thrash,
beat up (informal),
molest,
work over (slang),
pummel,
manhandle,
rough up,
handle roughly,
knock about or around,
beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)
in the sense of overwhelm
Definition
to overcome (people) with irresistible force
One massive assault would overwhelm the weakened enemy.
Synonyms
destroy,
beat,
defeat,
overcome,
smash,
crush,
massacre,
conquer,
wipe out,
overthrow,
knock out,
lick (informal),
subdue,
rout,
eradicate,
overpower,
quell,
annihilate,
put paid to,
vanquish (literary),
subjugate,
immobilize,
make mincemeat of (informal),
cut to pieces
in the sense of rout
Definition
to defeat and put to flight
The Norman army routed the English opposition.
Synonyms
defeat,
beat,
overthrow,
thrash,
stuff (slang),
worst,
destroy,
chase,
tank (slang),
crush,
scatter,
conquer,
lick (informal),
dispel,
drive off,
overpower,
clobber (slang),
wipe the floor with (informal),
cut to pieces,
put to flight,
drub,
put to rout,
throw back in confusion
in the sense of scourge
Definition
to whip
They were scourging him severely.
Synonyms
whip,
beat,
lash,
thrash,
discipline,
belt (informal),
leather,
punish,
whale,
cane,
flog,
trounce,
castigate,
wallop (informal),
chastise,
lather (informal),
horsewhip,
tan (someone's) hide (slang),
take a strap to
Additional synonyms
in the sense of slaughter
Definition
(in sport) to defeat easily
He slaughtered his opponent in three sets.
Synonyms
defeat,
thrash,
vanquish (literary),
stuff (slang),
tank (slang),
hammer (informal),
crush,
overwhelm,
lick (informal),
undo,
rout,
trounce,
wipe the floor with (informal),
blow out of the water (slang)
in the sense of spank
Definition
to slap (someone) with the open hand, on the buttocks or legs
Synonyms
smack,
slap,
whack,
belt (informal),
tan (slang),
slipper (informal),
cuff,
wallop (informal),
give (someone) a hiding (informal),
put (someone) over your knee
in the sense of squirm
Definition
to feel embarrassed or guilty
Mentioning religion is a sure way to make him squirm.
Synonyms
feel uncomfortable,
worry,
writhe,
agonize
in the sense of tan
Definition
to beat or flog
I'll tan his backside for him.
Synonyms
thrash,
belt (informal),
leather,
whip,
strap,
smack,
cane,
flog,
spank,
wallop,
flay,
horsewhip
in the sense of toss
Definition
to be restless when trying to sleep
I felt as though I'd been tossing and turning all night.
Synonyms
thrash (about),
twitch,
wriggle,
squirm,
writhe
in the sense of trounce
Definition
to defeat (someone) utterly
Australia trounced France by sixty points to four.
Synonyms
defeat someone heavily or utterly,
beat,
thrash,
slaughter (informal),
stuff (slang),
tank (slang),
hammer (informal),
crush,
overwhelm,
lick (informal),
paste (slang),
rout,
walk over (informal),
clobber (slang),
run rings around (informal),
wipe the floor with (informal),
make mincemeat of,
blow someone out of the water (slang),
give someone a hiding (informal),
drub,
beat someone hollow (British, informal),
give someone a pasting (slang)
in the sense of wallop
Definition
to hit hard
She walloped me over the head with a cushion.
Synonyms
hit,
beat,
strike,
knock,
belt (informal),
deck (slang),
bang,
batter,
bash (informal),
pound,
chin (slang),
smack,
thrash,
thump,
paste (slang),
buffet,
clout (informal),
slug,
whack,
swipe,
clobber (slang),
pummel,
tonk (slang),
lambast(e),
lay one on (slang),
beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)
in the sense of whip
Definition
to hit with a whip
Eyewitnesses claimed he whipped the horse up to 16 times.