slam dunk
3
3.4
- noun
- /slæm dʌŋk/
:
mate
- Shapiro goes down the middle, a slam dunk!
- slam dunk contest
- making a slam dunk
Examples
-
The player executed a powerful slam dunk that left the fans roaring in excitement.
-
During the basketball game, a spectacular slam dunk by Jordan energized the whole crowd.
-
Down on the court, a slam dunk by the home team brought the crowd to its feet.
Fiction book (1997) -
Blake's is probably the hardest slam dunk ever!
Blog text (13) -
The previous season, Wilkins had won the NBA's slam dunk contest.
Academic text (2014) -
With the ball securely stuck in his right palm, he threw down a slam dunk in one great windmilling motion.
Fiction book (1997) -
With amazing athleticism, she completed a thrilling slam dunk that secured the victory for her team.
Synonyms
289
1.6
An attempt to score in a sport, for example throwing a heavy ball in shot put
80
4.7
A basketball shot pushing the ball down through the hoop with one or both hands above the rim
14
1.5
A score made by throwing the ball through the hoop in basketball
9
3.3
A basket scored during play by throwing the ball through the other team's hoop
1
3.5
A basketball shot where a player jumps and pushes the ball down into the hoop with one or both hands
1
2.0
An attempt to score by throwing the ball into the hoop
A basketball play where a player puts the ball down hard through the hoop
Antonyms
How Forceful
Surface Forms
Morphology
The literal words 'slam' (forcefully hit) and 'dunk' (a forceful basketball shot) suggest a strong, decisive action, so a learner who knows both could infer a meaning related to a forceful, successful act. However, the noun sense 'an easy or guaranteed success' is a metaphorical extension tied to basketball/cultural knowledge and is not fully predictable from the parts alone, making it only partially transparent to a typical B1 learner.
Etymology
Slam dunk comes from basketball: a player jumps and powerfully puts the ball straight through the hoop, a move where they slam the ball down in a strong dunk. So it means scoring by putting the ball directly through the basket.