Etymology

smackdown

smack·down
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Today it means: A physical or emotional confrontation; a battle, a fight; also, a bitter rivalry. Full definition →

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The story

Deverbal from smack down (“to defeat utterly and decisively, especially in a humiliating way”), from smack (“sharp blow, slap”, noun) + down. Influenced by earlier throwdown. Popularized by: * the United States professional wrestling television programme WWF SmackDown! (first broadcast on April 29, 1999), now called WWE SmackDown and produced by World Wrestling Entertainment; and * the phrase lay (or put) the smack down (“to start a fight”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.