slap down

verb

To browbeat or reprimand (someone) harshly, usually in front of other people.

“She slapped down her subordinate at the meeting.”

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Meanings

verbslap down (third-person singular simple present slaps down, present participle slapping down, simple past and past participle slapped down)

present singular third person slaps down · participle present slapping down · participle past slapped down · past slapped down · alternative slap-down

  1. transitiveTo browbeat or reprimand (someone) harshly, usually in front of other people.

    She slapped down her subordinate at the meeting.

  2. transitiveTo harshly reject (something).

    The judge slapped down the department's rule rewrites.

nounslap down (plural slap downs)

plural slap downs · alternative slap-down

  1. alternativeAlternative spelling of slapdown.

Origin

Metaphorical use of a literal phrase (slap + down).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

slap down. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/slap%20down

MLA

“slap down.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/slap%20down. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “slap down,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/slap%20down.

Source: slap down on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.