bash

To hit someone or something hard, often repeatedly.

• He bashed the door with his fist.
• Someone bashed her over the head.
• They were bashing the fence with sticks.

How to use it: bash someone/something with something (He bashed the lock with a hammer.)

Similar words: hit, beat, strike

Common phrases: bash someone, bash a door, bash someone's head

To speak or write about someone or something in a very negative way.

• Don't bash my idea before hearing it.
• The newspapers bashed the new policy.
• People keep bashing her online.

Similar words: criticize, attack, slam

Opposites: praise

Common phrases: bash an idea, bash the government, bash someone online, bash someone's ideas

To hit something by moving into it with force, often accidentally.

• I bashed my knee against the table.
• The two boats bashed together.
• He wasn't looking and bashed into a wall.

How to use it: bash into something (I bashed into the table in the dark.); bash something against something (She bashed her knee against the door.)

Similar words: bump, crash, collide

Common phrases: bash into something, bash against something, bash together

A large, lively party or celebration.

• We're having a birthday bash.
• They invited everyone to their anniversary bash.
• Did you enjoy the big bash last night?

Similar words: party, celebration

Common phrases: birthday bash, big bash, throw a bash

A hard hit against someone or something.

• I gave the door a bash.
• She got a bash on the head.
• The fall gave my elbow a nasty bash.

How to use it: a bash on something (He got a bash on the nose.)

Similar words: blow, hit

Common phrases: a hard bash, a bash on

An attempt to do something, especially something new.

• Give it a bash!
• I had a bash at painting the fence.
• She gave the puzzle a bash but soon stopped.

How to use it: have a bash at doing something (I had a bash at making bread.)

Similar words: try, attempt, go

Common phrases: have a bash, give something a bash

A violent attack on a person.

• The gang planned a bash on a stranger.
• Police investigated the brutal bash outside the club.
• He suffered serious injuries in the bash.

Similar words: attack, assault

Common phrases: violent bash, a brutal bash