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smack around

B1 informal separable transitive
In simple words

To slap or hit someone several times, or to boss someone around roughly.

Literal meaning: To smack (slap/hit) someone in various directions around themselves.

Meanings

1 B1 informal

To hit or slap someone repeatedly.

"The bully was caught smacking the younger student around behind the school."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 idiomatic informal

To treat someone in a domineering, rough, or disrespectful way.

"He complained that his manager was smacking him around and taking all the credit for his work."

Grammar: separable
3 B2 idiomatic informal

To defeat or outperform someone decisively in a competition.

"Our team got smacked around in the first half, but we recovered in the second."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Common in American English. Can be used literally (physical hitting) or figuratively (dominating or mistreating someone). The figurative use is especially common in competitive or business contexts.

Commonly used with

opponent competition rivals kids employees victim

Forms

Base
smack around
I/you/we/they
3rd person
smacks around
he/she/it
Past simple
smacked around
yesterday
Past participle
smacked around
have + pp
-ing form
smacking around
continuous

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