Where did the phrase blown to smithereens come from?
The phrase “blown to smithereens” despite having various derivatives is stated to have been first used by Francis Plowden in his The History of Ireland, which was published in 1801. It has been used there as “we will break your carriage in smithereens.” Later it has evolved into “blown into smithereens.”
What does getting blown to smithereens mean?
If something is blown or smashed to smithereens, it breaks into very small pieces.
When was the word smithereens first used?
Smithereens came to the English language around 1810 as “smiddereens,” from the Irish word “smidirin,” which is the diminutive form of “smiodar,” which means “fragment.”
Is smithereens a real word?
‘Smithereens’ is an Irish word. It derives from, or is possibly the source of, the modern Irish ‘smidirín’, which means ‘small fragments’. There is a town near Baltimore, close to the south-west coast of Ireland, called Skibbereen. ‘Smiodar’ means fragments in Irish Gaelic.
How big is a Smithereen?
Not only are they way too small, they’re unstable and decay in a jiffy (7.3 nanoseconds). Also, we’re way, way too big to be messing with these things intimately….
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What do the word smithereens mean?
: small broken pieces : fragments, bits the vase was in smithereens on the floor —usually used in phrases like blow to smithereens or smash to smithereens Roughly once a second, a star somewhere in the universe explodes.
What language does smithereens come from?
Irish
Although no one is entirely positive about its precise origins, scholars think that smithereens likely developed from the Irish word smidiríní, which means “little bits.” That Irish word is the diminutive of smiodar, meaning “fragment.” According to print evidence, the plural form smithereens first appears in English …
What is the meaning of Fenestral?
Fenestral meaning (archaeology) A casement or window sash closed with cloth or paper instead of glass. noun. (architecture) Relating to a window or windows.
What does adversary thinking mean?
Thinking that all lawyers are aggressive, out to make a quick buck, and are morally dubious is an example of what Edward de Bono terms “Adversary Thinking”. With adversarial thinking each side takes a different position and then seeks to attack the other side. Each side seeks to prove that the other side is wrong.
Can a person be adversarial?
involving people opposing or disagreeing with each other: In the old days of two-party adversarial politics, voting was easy.
What does it mean when something is blown to smithereens?
Disintegrated into small fragments by a sudden impact or explosion. What’s the origin of the phrase ‘Blown to smithereens’? ‘Smithereens’ is an Irish word. It derives from, or is possibly the source of, the modern Irish ‘smidirín’, which means ‘small fragments’.
Where did the term Smithereens come from?
“Smithereens,” first appearing in English in 1829 as “smiddereens,” is likely derived from the Irish word “smidirín” or “smidiríní,” meaning “fragment.”. I wish I could still go visit our old family home, but it’s already been blown to smithereens by the demolition crew.
What does smithhereens mean?
Disintegrated into small fragments by a sudden impact or explosion. ‘Smithereens’ is an Irish word. Another enticing notion as to the source of ‘smithereens’ is that it refers to the shards of metal formed when iron is forged and hammered in a smithy.
Are Skibbereen and Smithereens the same?
There’s no record of any such phrase however, and the similarity between ‘Skibbereen’ and ‘smithereens’ seems to be no more than co-incidence. Another enticing notion as to the source of ‘smithereens’ is that it refers to the shards of metal formed when iron is forged and hammered in a smithy.