smack
smack — verb
1. to strike a person or animal with one's open palm, most often done to discipline
to strike a person or animal with one's open palm, most often done to discipline a child for misbehaviour
Soraya smacked her son's hand when he reached for the hot stove.
smack + body part for discipline
Grandpa never smacked any of his grandchildren, no matter how badly they behaved.
The old cat hissed when the toddler tried to smack its tail.
smack + animal as object
Many parents today choose not to smack their children as a form of punishment.
- smack someone's hand
- smack a child
- smack a bottom
- smack a dog
- caress
to touch gently and lovingly, opposite of hitting
Grammar Patterns
smack + noun phrase (person/animal)
Usage Note
Object is typically a child, a hand, or an animal. This sense is less common in formal or legal writing, where 'strike' or 'hit' is preferred.
Common Mistakes
2. to forcefully push or drop something onto a surface, producing a sharp sound on
to forcefully push or drop something onto a surface, producing a sharp sound on impact; also, for an object to strike a surface noisily
Hugo smacked the book down on the desk in frustration.
smack + object + down on + surface
A big wave smacked the side of the boat, soaking everyone on deck.
Ritu accidentally smacked his elbow against the door frame as he walked through.
smack + body part + against + surface
Cyrus smacked the ball over the net with all his strength.
- smack against the wall
- smack into the door
- smack down
- smack the ball
Grammar Patterns
smack + object + against/into/on + surface
Usage Note
This sense typically pairs with a preposition such as 'against', 'into', 'on', or 'down'. The subject can be a person, an object, or a natural force like a wave.
Common Mistakes
3. to have a noticeable taste, quality, or suggestion of something, especially some
to have a noticeable taste, quality, or suggestion of something, especially something that seems bad, dishonest, or unpleasant
The soup smacked of garlic and old herbs that did not belong together.
smack of + food flavour
To many voters, the mayor's apology smacked of dishonesty and political calculation.
smack of + abstract quality (dishonesty)
The water from the old pipes smacked of rust and iron.
That cheap deal smacks of a scam — I would not trust it.
- smack of dishonesty
- smack of garlic
- smack of corruption
- smack of desperation
Grammar Patterns
smack of + [abstract noun / concrete noun]
Usage Note
Almost always followed by 'of'. Common in negative contexts about unpleasantly suggestive qualities. Less commonly used for neutral or positive tastes.
Common Mistakes
4. to press your lips together and then pull them apart quickly to make a short sou
to press your lips together and then pull them apart quickly to make a short sound, often because food tastes good or you are eager to eat something; also, to kiss someone with a short loud sound
Christopher smacked his lips loudly after tasting the chocolate cake.
smack one's lips — enjoying food
Sayaka's grandpa always smacked his lips before starting a meal.
Adina smacked her little niece on the cheek and told her goodnight.
smack + person + on + body part (affectionate kiss)
The old movie showed the hero smacking the heroine with an exaggerated kiss.
- smack one's lips
- smack someone on the cheek
- smack a kiss
Grammar Patterns
smack one's lips
smack + person + on + body part
Usage Note
'Smack one's lips' is a fixed expression usually indicating enjoyment of food or eager anticipation. The kissing sense is playful or old-fashioned in tone.
Common Mistakes
smack of
phrasal verbTo seem to have a particular quality, especially a bad one.
His excuse smacks of dishonesty and laziness.
The new policy smacks of unfairness to small businesses.
smack up
phrasal verbTo hit someone or something hard, causing damage or injury.
The angry man threatened to smack up the car.
Did the bully really smack up that kid after school?
smack your lips
idiomTo make a loud sound with your lips to show you are enjoying food or something you are about to eat.
Maya smacked her lips after tasting the chocolate cake.
Why are you smacking your lips? Is the soup that good?
smack — noun
1. a hit given with the flat part of the open hand, especially as a way of punishin
a hit given with the flat part of the open hand, especially as a way of punishing a child or getting someone's attention
The boy got a smack on the bottom for running into the street.
get a smack + on + body part — punishment
Eleni gave the table a smack to show how angry she felt.
In Quan's family, a quick smack on the hand was the usual way to stop bad behavior.
The horse needed a gentle smack on the side to get it moving again.
smack + animal — gentle correction
- a smack on the bottom
- give someone a smack
- get a smack
- a sharp smack
Grammar Patterns
give someone a smack
get a smack
Usage Note
Often paired with 'give' or 'get' and a location phrase ('on the bottom', 'on the hand'). Can be used literally or as a mild threat ('you'll get a smack in a minute').
Common Mistakes
2. a hard hit given with a closed fist, usually in a fight or argument
a hard hit given with a closed fist, usually in a fight or argument
Rodrigo landed a smack on the bully's jaw and the fight was over.
a smack + on + body part — fist fight
One smack to the nose sent him stumbling backwards into the wall.
The referee separated the players before anyone could throw a smack.
Jason took a smack to the stomach and doubled over in pain.
- a smack to the jaw
- land a smack
- take a smack
- throw a smack
Grammar Patterns
a smack to/in + body part
Usage Note
More common in British English informal speech. In American English, 'punch' or 'hit' is far more frequent for a fist strike.
Common Mistakes
3. a short sharp sound made when one thing hits another, or when lips are quickly o
a short sharp sound made when one thing hits another, or when lips are quickly opened
The book hit the floor with a loud smack that made everyone jump.
with a smack — hitting sound
Aoi heard the smack of the screen door closing in the wind.
The fish landed on the deck with a wet smack and flopped around.
There was a sharp smack as the tennis ball hit the racket.
- with a smack
- a loud smack
- a sharp smack
- the smack of
Grammar Patterns
with a smack
a smack of + object
Usage Note
Describes the acoustic result of a hit or collision rather than the action itself. Often follows 'with a' or 'heard the smack of'.
4. a kiss that makes a short loud sound, often given playfully or affectionately
a kiss that makes a short loud sound, often given playfully or affectionately
Grandma gave little Hugo a smack on the cheek and sent him off to bed.
give + smack + on + body part — affectionate
The toddler planted a wet smack on her father's nose and giggled.
At the family reunion, Aunt Rosa delivered loud smacks to everyone's cheeks.
Élise blew her aunt a smack from across the crowded room.
- a smack on the cheek
- give someone a smack
- a loud smack
- blow someone a smack
Grammar Patterns
give someone a smack
Usage Note
Playful or old-fashioned in tone. 'Smack' as a noun for a kiss is less common than the verb form 'smack someone on the cheek'.
5. an illegal and highly addictive drug made from morphine, known on the street by
an illegal and highly addictive drug made from morphine, known on the street by this slang term
The police found a large amount of smack hidden inside the car's rear seat.
slang: smack = heroin in drug-related context
The documentary followed people struggling to quit smoking smack in the city.
Dealers on that street corner were known for selling smack to teenagers.
Adina's brother spent years in prison for trafficking smack across state lines.
- use smack
- addicted to smack
- deal smack
- smack addict
Usage Note
Highly informal slang. Not used in formal writing or speech. 'Heroin' is the standard term in medical, legal, and journalistic contexts.
Common Mistakes
smack — adverb
1. exactly in a particular place or position, with no space or distance
exactly in a particular place or position, with no space or distance
The arrow landed smack in the centre of the target.
smack in the centre — precisely at a point
His house is smack in the middle of a busy shopping district.
The school sits smack on the border between the two towns.
Rodrigo found himself smack in the middle of an argument he did not start.
smack in the middle of — figurative, exactly in a situation
- smack in the middle
- smack in the centre
- smack on target
- smack bang
- right
more common and neutral in register; 'smack' is more emphatic
Grammar Patterns
smack + in/on/at/between + [location]
Usage Note
Always placed immediately before a prepositional phrase ('in', 'on', 'at', 'between'). The phrase 'smack in the middle' is the most common fixed expression.
Common Mistakes
2. in a head-on manner with sudden impact, typically making a sharp sound upon coll
in a head-on manner with sudden impact, typically making a sharp sound upon collision
The car ran smack into the back of a parked truck.
smack into — direct forceful collision
Jason walked smack into the glass door because it was so clean.
The ball hit him smack on the nose, drawing a bit of blood.
A bird flew smack against the window and fell to the ground.
- smack into
- smack against
- smack on
- smack bang into
Grammar Patterns
smack + into/against + [noun]
Usage Note
Often interchangeable with 'smack' sense 1 (exact location), but this sense adds the element of sudden impact or collision. 'Smack into' is the most common pattern in this meaning.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- smackernounC1
- smackingnounB2
- smackingadjectiveC1
- smackheadnounC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
'Smack', 'slap', 'spank', and 'swat' all describe hitting with an open hand, but differ in target, force, and purpose. 'Smack' is the most general term — it can be a disciplinary hit on a child's bottom or hand, or simply a sharp strike to any surface. 'Slap' usually targets the face and implies anger or insult: slapping someone's face is an aggressive act. 'Spank' is specifically hitting the buttocks as a punishment, usually of a child, and often involves repeated blows. 'Swat' is quick and light — you swat a mosquito on your arm, or a parent might swat a toddler's hand away from danger. In practice: 'The mother smacked her son's hand for touching the stove' (discipline); 'He slapped the man across the face' (aggression); 'The father spanked the child for lying' (punishment on the bottom); 'She swatted the fly with a newspaper' (quick hit).
Common collocations
Etymology
'Smack' comes from the Dutch or Low German word 'smakken', meaning to strike or throw down noisily. It entered English in the 1500s, first as a verb for hitting with a loud sound. By the 1600s it was also used for the sound of lips parting. The slang meaning 'heroin' appeared in the 1940s and may be connected to the idea of a 'smack' (a small amount) or a Russian word 'smak' meaning 'taste'.