slashing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Mixed (Informal, Journalistic, Business, Sports)
Quick answer
What does “slashing” mean?
cutting with a forceful, sweeping stroke.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
cutting with a forceful, sweeping stroke; drastically reducing.
The act of cutting violently or severely; a sharp, wide reduction (e.g., in prices, budgets, jobs); in sports like hockey, an illegal swinging stroke with a stick.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. 'Slashing' in the hockey penalty sense is more common in North American contexts due to the sport's prominence.
Connotations
In both, implies violence, severity, and decisiveness. In business contexts, it's negative for those affected but can be positive for efficiency.
Frequency
Comparable frequency. Slightly more common in US business/financial journalism.
Grammar
How to Use “slashing” in a Sentence
[Subject] is slashing [Object] (e.g., costs).Accused of slashing [Object] (e.g., tyres).The [Noun] features slashing [Noun] (e.g., lines, criticism).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “slashing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The council is slashing funding for local libraries.
- Vandals slashed the tyres on several cars in the neighbourhood.
American English
- The company is slashing prices for the holiday sale.
- The senator delivered a speech slashing her opponent's policy plan.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Common for describing severe cuts to budgets, staff, or prices.
Academic
Rare; might appear in historical texts about violence or economic analyses.
Everyday
Used for describing vandalism (slashing tyres) or severe weather (rain slashing down).
Technical
In hockey: a specific penalty. In typography: related to the slash (/) character.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “slashing”
- Using 'slashing' for minor cuts (use 'trimming').
- Incorrect preposition: 'slashing on prices' (correct: 'slashing prices').
- Confusing verb forms: 'He was slash the budget' (correct: 'He was slashing the budget').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Mostly, but not always. For a consumer, 'price slashing' is positive. For employees, 'job slashing' is negative. It describes a severe action, which is often viewed negatively by those affected.
Yes, commonly. For example: 'The slashing of jobs was unavoidable' or 'He received a penalty for slashing.'
'Slashing' implies a more violent, forceful, sweeping, and drastic action. A 'cut' can be small and precise; a 'slash' is large and severe.
Etymologically, yes. The verb 'to slash' (to cut) gave its name to the '/' mark due to its resemblance to a cut. However, in modern usage, 'slashing' as a gerund/noun typically refers to the cutting action, not the punctuation.
cutting with a forceful, sweeping stroke.
Slashing is usually mixed (informal, journalistic, business, sports) in register.
Slashing: in British English it is pronounced /ˈslæʃ.ɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈslæʃ.ɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Slashing and burning (drastic cost-cutting)”
- “A slashing review (a very critical one)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a pirate SLASHING a price tag in half with his sword – a drastic cut.
Conceptual Metaphor
ECONOMIC REDUCTION IS PHYSICAL CUTTING (e.g., slashing budgets). CRITICISM IS A WEAPON (e.g., slashing remarks).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'slashing' LEAST likely to be used?