blow, smash, etc. something to smithereens

blow (something) to smithereens

To break or destroy something into tiny, fragmentary pieces. (Smithereens, first appearing in English in 1829 as "smiddereens," is likely derived from the Irish word "smidirín" or "smidiríní," meaning fragment.) The demolition crew blew the building to smithereens in a matter of seconds. The typhoon's gale-force winds have been blowing the village to smithereens over the last few days.See also: blow, smithereens

smash (something) to smithereens

To break or destroy something into tiny, fragmentary pieces. "Smithereens," first appearing in English in 1829 as "smiddereens," is likely derived from the Irish word "smidirín" or "smidiríní," meaning "fragment." The demolition crew brought in the wrecking ball, which smashed the house to smithereens in a matter of hours. The typhoon's gale-force winds have been smashing the village to smithereens over the last few days.See also: smash, smithereens

blow, smash, etc. something to smitheˈreens

(informal) destroy something completely by breaking it into small pieces: The bomb blew the car to smithereens.See also: smithereens, something