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Glite Dictionary
to spank the ball

to spank the ball

6.1
To hit a ball hard so it goes far
  • phrasal verb
  • /spæŋk ðə bɔl/
  • Jargon
translation icon : dar un golpe a la pelota
  • She attempted to spank the ball over the net during the volleyball game.

Examples

  • The coach taught the players how to spank the ball for maximum power in baseball.

  • During practice, he learned how to spank the ball effectively in tennis.

  • I reemerged to spank the ball off the table's left edge, my own trick.

    Fiction book (1998)

Synonyms

to slap
vsto spank the ball
492 1.0

Hit quickly with the flat part of the hand

is stronger and aimed to make a powerful play in sport
to shoot
vsto spank the ball
299 1.3

To try to score by sending a ball toward the goal

is focused on forceful impact rather than just aiming
to smack
vsto spank the ball
164 3.5

To hit someone or something with an open hand

is used for sport hits with equipment rather than hand blows
to smash
vsto spank the ball
50 3.3

To hit something with great force, often in sport

is a forceful hit used across many ball sports
to drive
vsto spank the ball
36 3.5

To hit a ball hard to make it go far

is forceful but not limited to ground shots or a single direction
to hit the ball
vsto spank the ball
34 1.0

To strike a ball with a bat or racket in a sport

is specifically a strong forceful strike rather than a neutral one
to kill
vsto spank the ball
  • Jargon
10 4.7

Hit the ball or shuttlecock hard to try to win a point

is forceful but focuses on scoring rather than general play

Antonyms

to miss
∞ 1.0

To fail to reach or hit something you aim for

How Hard

to blast
45 3.5
to smash
50 3.3
to spank the ball
  • Jargon
6.1
to tap
174 1.0

Surface Forms

spank the ball infinitive
spanked the ball past
spanked the ball past participle
spanking the ball present participle
spanks the ball third person singular

Morphology

spank + the + ball

The verb 'spank' carries a clear meaning of striking or hitting with force, and combined with 'ball' the sense 'to hit the ball forcefully' is directly derivable from the constituents. Although the phrase is informal/sports jargon, the composition follows a straightforward verb + object pattern that a B1 learner who knows both words would understand.

Etymology

Spank the ball comes from the older use of spank meaning 'to hit sharply'. Imagine a racket or bat making a loud, sharp slap when it meets the ball. That's why it means 'to hit a ball forcefully'.