shellacking
One-sided brutal loss
Shellacking has two main senses, both derived from shellac, a resin-based finish applied to wood and other surfaces.
The literal meaning is the act of coating something with shellac to give it a glossy, protective layer.
More commonly, shellacking refers to a severe beating or decisive defeat: Our team took a real shellacking in the playoffs.
This figurative sense suggests being hit so hard and thoroughly that one is left with a glossy finish of humiliation.
Overwhelming defeat
- drubbingDecisive, lopsided defeat
- routOverwhelming one-sided victory
- blowoutSudden tire failure
- thrashingDecisive, lopsided defeat
clobbering · walloping · thumping · pasting · hammering · crushing · annihilation · demolition
trouncing
Overwhelming defeat
thrashing · clobbering · walloping · thumping · pasting · hammering · crushing · annihilation · demolition · whitewash
lacquer
Glossy protective coating
polyurethane · urethane · enamel · gloss · finish · topcoat · veneer · glaze · stain · primer
varnish
Liquid that dries glossy
- sandingFriction-smoothing a surface
- stainLasting surface discoloration
- lacquerGlossy protective coating
grain · finish · cabinetry · furniture · refinishing · buffing · restoration · antique · hardwood · veneer
- coatingcoating, covering, glazing, lacquering, plating
- defeatdefeat, beaten, conquered, vanquished, loss
- Beatdownsbeatdown, drubbing, thrashing, trouncing, blowout
- preservationpreserve, preservatives, preservative, canning, freezing
- restorationrestoration, repair, renovation, rebuilding, refurbishment
- surface finishingpolishing, buffing, sanding, grinding, varnishing
shellackingvictory
Defeating an opponent
triumph · win · landslide victory · romp · sweep
shellackingnail-biter
Suspensefully close competition
photo finish · close game · squeaker · toss-up · dead heat