Sledgehammer
noun
A large, heavy hammer used for jobs such as breaking rocks or concrete.
He used a sledgehammer to break the wall.
Often appears as...
- swing a sledgehammer
- sledgehammer blow
verb
To hit or beat something with a lot of force, like using a sledgehammer.
The government has been sledgehammering its message across to the public.
Often appears as...
- sledgehammer a point home
- sledgehammer someone into submission
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
In figurative language, a sledgehammer can refer to anything that's used to apply extreme force or pressure.
Raising interest rates could be a sledgehammer blow to the housing market.
Often appears as...
- sledgehammer to crack a nut
- sledgehammer approach
noun
A large, heavy hammer used for jobs such as breaking rocks or concrete.
He used a sledgehammer to break the wall.
Often appears as...
- swing a sledgehammer
- sledgehammer blow
verb
To hit or beat something with a lot of force, like using a sledgehammer.
The government has been sledgehammering its message across to the public.
Often appears as...
- sledgehammer a point home
- sledgehammer someone into submission
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
In figurative language, a sledgehammer can refer to anything that's used to apply extreme force or pressure.
Raising interest rates could be a sledgehammer blow to the housing market.
Often appears as...
- sledgehammer to crack a nut
- sledgehammer approach
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/2Physical Strength
Sledgehammer signifies the need for physical effort due to its weight and size.
Clearing the construction site required a sledgehammer.
Pro Tip 2/2Destruction Tool
Used for destruction, a sledgehammer breaks things rather than builds.
The old shed came down quickly with a sledgehammer.
Pro Tip 1/2Physical Strength
Sledgehammer signifies the need for physical effort due to its weight and size.
Clearing the construction site required a sledgehammer.
Pro Tip 2/2Destruction Tool
Used for destruction, a sledgehammer breaks things rather than builds.
The old shed came down quickly with a sledgehammer.
Pro Tip 1/2Physical Strength
Sledgehammer signifies the need for physical effort due to its weight and size.
Clearing the construction site required a sledgehammer.
Pro Tip 2/2Destruction Tool
Used for destruction, a sledgehammer breaks things rather than builds.
The old shed came down quickly with a sledgehammer.
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Video examples
What is Selective...
- My first cut, not my best work. But now that I've learned how to cut the boundaries in the concrete, the second step is to remove it. Time to show this slab what I'm made of. - We'll start you with a sledgehammer. When doing this job, when you're trimming up concrete, you want to work your way out of a corner. Just line it up, and then all you got.
Video examples
Naomi Oreskes: Why we...
which suggested to him that they were actually being compressed from the side. And this idea would later play a major role in discussions of continental drift. So he built this model, this crazy contraption with levers and wood, and here's his wheelbarrow, buckets, a big sledgehammer. I don't know why he's got the Wellington boots.
Video examples
Amory Lovins: A 40-year...
which doubles as a carbon cap. In one minute -- and you can tell from the sound how immensely stiff and strong it is. Don't worry about dropping it, it's tougher than titanium. Tom Friedman actually whacked it as hard as he could with a sledgehammer
Video examples
Why Paul McCartney...
think you think's like that yeah I don't think you're gonna approach with the sledgehammer you've got to kind of just keep it gentle venom well sometimes you know I see environmentalists with messages and it sounds like moralistic scolding and I
Video examples
A 40-year plan for...
a carbon cap in one minute and you can tell from the sound how immensely stiff and strong it is don't worry about dropping it it's tougher than titanium Tom Friedman actually who acted as hard as he could with a sledgehammer without
Video examples
Redefining the...
is real that I think okay if we think words are the tools that we use to build the expressions of our thoughts how can you say that screwdrivers are better than hammers how can you say that a sledgehammer is better than a ball-peen
Video examples
The Cold Sets In PIPE No...
dude no you're not we're all called and you were in trouble now it wasn't the Iraqis that was the weather that was gonna kill us night fell and that's when it hit me and it hit me like a sledgehammer
Video examples
How technology has...
My hearing aids were industrial-strength, sledgehammer volume, but they helped me more than they helped most people. With them, I could hear music and the sound of my own voice.
Video examples
Getting Water in the...
of keeping everything hygienically clean can't be overstressed. Who said Mike doesn't make right? Wasn't somebody with a sledgehammer. I guarantee you that.
Video examples
Race to the Safe Zone PIPE...
and it felt like somebody had walked up and hit me in the back of the left shoulder with a sledgehammer
Video examples
What is Selective...
- My first cut, not my best work. But now that I've learned how to cut the boundaries in the concrete, the second step is to remove it. Time to show this slab what I'm made of. - We'll start you with a sledgehammer. When doing this job, when you're trimming up concrete, you want to work your way out of a corner. Just line it up, and then all you got.
Video examples
Naomi Oreskes: Why we...
which suggested to him that they were actually being compressed from the side. And this idea would later play a major role in discussions of continental drift. So he built this model, this crazy contraption with levers and wood, and here's his wheelbarrow, buckets, a big sledgehammer. I don't know why he's got the Wellington boots.
Video examples
Amory Lovins: A 40-year...
which doubles as a carbon cap. In one minute -- and you can tell from the sound how immensely stiff and strong it is. Don't worry about dropping it, it's tougher than titanium. Tom Friedman actually whacked it as hard as he could with a sledgehammer
Video examples
Why Paul McCartney...
think you think's like that yeah I don't think you're gonna approach with the sledgehammer you've got to kind of just keep it gentle venom well sometimes you know I see environmentalists with messages and it sounds like moralistic scolding and I
Video examples
A 40-year plan for...
a carbon cap in one minute and you can tell from the sound how immensely stiff and strong it is don't worry about dropping it it's tougher than titanium Tom Friedman actually who acted as hard as he could with a sledgehammer without
Video examples
Redefining the...
is real that I think okay if we think words are the tools that we use to build the expressions of our thoughts how can you say that screwdrivers are better than hammers how can you say that a sledgehammer is better than a ball-peen
Video examples
The Cold Sets In PIPE No...
dude no you're not we're all called and you were in trouble now it wasn't the Iraqis that was the weather that was gonna kill us night fell and that's when it hit me and it hit me like a sledgehammer
Video examples
How technology has...
My hearing aids were industrial-strength, sledgehammer volume, but they helped me more than they helped most people. With them, I could hear music and the sound of my own voice.
Video examples
Getting Water in the...
of keeping everything hygienically clean can't be overstressed. Who said Mike doesn't make right? Wasn't somebody with a sledgehammer. I guarantee you that.
Video examples
Race to the Safe Zone PIPE...
and it felt like somebody had walked up and hit me in the back of the left shoulder with a sledgehammer
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Barkha Dutt
Indian Journalist
Grief, like Covid-19, mutates and escapes the inoculation of both time and the reassurance of loving friends. It is less sledgehammer and more screwdriver, drilling little holes in your head and heart, leaving you haunted by the ifs and buts of your decisions.
Quote examples
Eliot Schrefer
American Author
The College Board is both in the business of test administration and test prep. If this feels inherently unfair, it should - it's like a doctor whacking your knee with a sledgehammer and then offering to patch you up.
Quote examples
David Harbour
American Actor
Social media should be more like a cocktail party than anything else. You can have your fun jokes, and you can also express yourself and your beliefs. It's a conversation, not a sledgehammer.
Quote examples
Peter Lerangis
American Author
SOPA has been described as hitting a carpet tack with a sledgehammer. But technology was a sledgehammer to the music industry, one that allowed digital distributors like Apple to grow rich.
Quote examples
Peter Capaldi
Scottish Actor
The only time I've tried to make plans, the cosmic sledgehammer has intervened and something else has happened. You just have to wait and see what comes your way, so that's what I do.
Quote examples
Tom Perez
American Politician
When my grandchildren ask, 'Where were you when Donald Trump took a sledgehammer to Lady Liberty?' I want to make sure I can tell them I was there protecting America.
Quote examples
Denis Lawson
Scottish Actor
A big moment for me came when 'Singin' in the Rain' came out. It hit me like a sledgehammer - that's what I wanted to do.
Quote examples
Katharine Hepburn
American Actress
Why slap them on the wrist with feather when you can belt them over the head with a sledgehammer.
Quote examples
Seamus Heaney
Irish Poet
To encounter 'Beowulf' is like taking a sledgehammer to a quarry face. You must bang in there.
Quote examples
Watkin Tudor Jones
South African Musician
Hollywood's not knocking on our door. They're banging down the door with a sledgehammer.
Quote examples
Barkha Dutt
Indian Journalist
Grief, like Covid-19, mutates and escapes the inoculation of both time and the reassurance of loving friends. It is less sledgehammer and more screwdriver, drilling little holes in your head and heart, leaving you haunted by the ifs and buts of your decisions.
Quote examples
Eliot Schrefer
American Author
The College Board is both in the business of test administration and test prep. If this feels inherently unfair, it should - it's like a doctor whacking your knee with a sledgehammer and then offering to patch you up.
Quote examples
David Harbour
American Actor
Social media should be more like a cocktail party than anything else. You can have your fun jokes, and you can also express yourself and your beliefs. It's a conversation, not a sledgehammer.
Quote examples
Peter Lerangis
American Author
SOPA has been described as hitting a carpet tack with a sledgehammer. But technology was a sledgehammer to the music industry, one that allowed digital distributors like Apple to grow rich.
Quote examples
Peter Capaldi
Scottish Actor
The only time I've tried to make plans, the cosmic sledgehammer has intervened and something else has happened. You just have to wait and see what comes your way, so that's what I do.
Quote examples
Tom Perez
American Politician
When my grandchildren ask, 'Where were you when Donald Trump took a sledgehammer to Lady Liberty?' I want to make sure I can tell them I was there protecting America.
Quote examples
Denis Lawson
Scottish Actor
A big moment for me came when 'Singin' in the Rain' came out. It hit me like a sledgehammer - that's what I wanted to do.
Quote examples
Katharine Hepburn
American Actress
Why slap them on the wrist with feather when you can belt them over the head with a sledgehammer.
Quote examples
Seamus Heaney
Irish Poet
To encounter 'Beowulf' is like taking a sledgehammer to a quarry face. You must bang in there.
Quote examples
Watkin Tudor Jones
South African Musician
Hollywood's not knocking on our door. They're banging down the door with a sledgehammer.
Example 1 of 10
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