SHELLACKINGS Meaning and
Definition
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Shellackings is a slang term that refers to a severe defeat or humiliation. Derived from the verb "shellac," which means to coat or finish something with shellac, the term has been figuratively adopted to describe a thorough and overwhelming defeat in a non-literal sense.
In a political context, shellackings are commonly used to describe the significant loss of seats or voting share in an election. It implies that a political party or individual suffered an embarrassing and decisive defeat, often resulting in a dramatic shift of power to their opponents. The term has also been employed in sports to describe a team's lopsided defeat, where they are completely outplayed and dominated by their opponents.
Shellackings can be characterized by a large margin of victory, rendering the defeated side virtually powerless and leaving them with few, if any, opportunities for success. The term encompasses the psychological impact of a crushing loss, highlighting the embarrassment, shame, and demoralization experienced by those who suffered it.
Overall, shellackings represent a forceful and overwhelming defeat that leaves the losers feeling not just defeated but humiliated, often shaking their confidence and resulting in the need for introspection and reevaluation of their strategies or tactics.
Common Misspellings for SHELLACKINGS
- ahellackings
- zhellackings
- xhellackings
- dhellackings
- ehellackings
- whellackings
- sgellackings
- sbellackings
- snellackings
- sjellackings
- suellackings
- syellackings
- shwllackings
- shsllackings
- shdllackings
- shrllackings
- sh4llackings
- sh3llackings
- sheklackings
- sheplackings
Etymology of SHELLACKINGS
The word "shellacking" originated from the noun "shellac", which refers to a type of resinous substance derived from the secretions of the lac insect. The term "shellac" was first attested in English in the early 18th century, borrowed from the French "chicane" or "chicane de poisson", meaning "gum lac or gum resin", and ultimately derived from the Hindi word "lākh".
The term "shellacking", as a metaphorical expression indicating a decisive defeat or thrashing, emerged in the early 20th century in the United States. It likely derived from the idea of coating something with shellac to give it a polished and glossy appearance, implying that the defeated party or individual had been thoroughly coated or "varnished" in defeat.
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