smithereens

smithereens
/smidh'euh reenz"/, n.pl.
small pieces; bits: broken into smithereens.
Also, smithers /smidh"euhrz/.
[1820-30; dial. smithers ( < ?) + Hiberno-E -een dim. suffix ( < Ir -ín)]

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Smithereens — may refer to: * Smithereens (film), a 1982 film by Susan Seidelman * The Smithereens, a rock band from New Jersey * Smithereens (book) a book by Shaun Micallef …   Wikipedia

  • Smithereens — Smith er*eens (sm[i^][th] [ e]r*[=e]nz ), n. pl. Fragments; atoms; smithers. [Colloq.] W. Black. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • smithereens — fragments, 1829, from Ir. smidirin, dim. of smiodar fragment, perhaps with dim. ending as in Colleen …   Etymology dictionary

  • smithereens — ► PLURAL NOUN informal ▪ small pieces. ORIGIN probably from Irish smidirín …   English terms dictionary

  • smithereens — [smith΄ər ēnz′] pl.n. [Ir smidirīn] Informal small fragments or broken pieces; bits …   English World dictionary

  • smithereens — [[t]smɪ̱ðəri͟ːnz[/t]] N PLURAL: usu to N If something is smashed or blown to smithereens, it breaks into very small pieces. She dropped the vase and smashed it to smithereens... They walked right into a booby trap and got blown to smithereens.… …   English dictionary

  • smithereens — n. to break, smash smt. into, to smithereens * * * smash smt. into to smithereens to break …   Combinatory dictionary

  • smithereens — smith|e|reens [ˌsmıðəˈri:nz] n [Date: 1800 1900; : Irish Gaelic; Origin: smidirin, from smiodar small piece ] smash/blow etc sth to smithereens informal to destroy something by breaking it into very small pieces, or with an explosion ▪ The shop… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • smithereens — UK [ˌsmɪðəˈriːnz] / US [ˌsmɪðəˈrɪnz] noun [plural] smash/blow something to smithereens informal to destroy something by breaking it into very small pieces The bowl fell to the floor and was smashed to smithereens …   English dictionary

  • smithereens — [“smida^inz] n. many tiny pieces or splinters. □ The mirror was broken to smithereens. □ I broke my crystal bell to smithereens …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • smithereens — noun plural Etymology: perhaps from Irish smidiríní Date: 1829 fragments, bits < the house was blown to smithereens by the explosion > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”