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Slang: smack-dab



 
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ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
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Slang: smack-dab Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:25 am  Slang: smack-dab		  
Hi,

Could you please tell me if 'smack' refers to 'directly' while 'dab' to 'hit' so as to make the slang 'smack-dab' mean 'directly' or 'squarely'?

Many thanks.

Haihao
Haihao
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Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 1306
Location: Japan
Slang: smack-dab Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:09 pm  Slang: smack-dab		  
Haihao wrote:
Could you please tell me if 'smack' refers to 'directly' while 'dab' to 'hit' so as to make the slang 'smack-dab' mean 'directly' or 'squarely'?

"Smack" refers to hit. A secondary meaning of "dab" is "aim at or strike with a light blow" (I didn't know about this meaning until I looked it up just now, so it's quite rare). So "smack dab" literally means "hit hit". But really it means "precisely".

Interestingly enough, "smack" means to hit, but it can also mean to kiss (usually very loudly).
Jamie (K)
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Slang: smack-dab Sat Mar 03, 2007 12:50 pm  Slang: smack-dab		  
Hi Jamie,

Thank you so very much again for your interpretation and consideration. The "hit hit" and ''kiss smack'' are unforgetable! Smile

Haihao
Haihao
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Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 1306
Location: Japan
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'To depersonalize man is the dominant drift of our times.' | Expression: Byzantium used to be quite a hobby with me
ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms Slang: smack-dab All times are GMT + 2 Hours
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