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slaying

slaying

1 8.9
An impressive performance on stage that people admire
  • noun
  • /ˈsleɪɪŋ/
  • Slang
translation icon : triunfo
  • Manny over there just slaying, slaying Maui.

Examples

  • All right, second to last, we have, you know, Haagen Dazs has really just been slaying it with their branding lately.

  • Obviously, I'm out here absolutely slaying it at Legendary Lake Guntersville.

  • It's it's, it's really sad out here when you have mother Beyoncé slaying out here and you're looking like you're melting in the gym.

  • The singer was absolutely slaying the audience with her stunning performance last night.

  • He walked into the party wearing an outfit that was truly slaying everyone's expectations.

  • The comedian is known for slaying it on stage with her quick wit and engaging jokes.

Antonyms

557 1.3

Not reaching what was planned or expected

31 6.5

A state of being average and not special

How Impressive

slaying
  • Slang
1 8.9
showstopper
7 5.7
hit
465 1.3
success
1.0
performance
539 2.7

Surface Forms

slaying singular
slayings plural

Morphology

slaying = slay (semi-transparent) = slay + ing

The slang sense is a metaphorical extension of 'slay' (to impress or defeat an audience), so the structure is clear but the meaning is non-literal and culturally specific.

Etymology

The slang use of slaying comes from the same old English verb slean, which meant 'to kill', and people began to use 'kill' as a strong image for great success. So when someone calls a performance a slaying, they mean it amazed the audience and made a big impression.