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to speak out; to move into a position of readiness and availability
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Slang: smack-dab



 
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Slang: smack-dab #1 (permalink) Fri Mar 02, 2007 3:25 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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Slang: smack-dab #2 (permalink) Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:09 am   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 #3 (permalink) Sat Mar 03, 2007 11:50 am   Slang: smack-dab		  
Hi Jamie,

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

Haihao
Haihao
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Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 2471
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