From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishthrashthrash1 /θræʃ/ verb 1 [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive]SIDE to move or make something move from side to side in a violent or uncontrolled waythrash about/around The girl was thrashing about in the water. Salmon thrash their tails and leap from the water.2 [transitive]HIT to beat someone violently, especially in order to punish them My poor brother used to get thrashed for all kinds of minor offences.3 [transitive] informalBEAT/DEFEAT to defeat someone very easily in a game Brazil thrashed Italy 5–0.► see thesaurus at beat → thrash something ↔ out→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
thrash• He's a restless sleeper, kicking and thrashing about throughout the night.• But the fish thrashed and broke free.• We tied balloons and streamers to the tents, wheelbarrow and Land Rover and watched them being thrashed by the wind.• He was thrashing from side to side.• The idea was thrashed out at a lunch given by Kenneth Horne.• Great issues of conscience are thrashed out in impassioned, eloquent language.• The Gators soundly thrashed San Jose State.• Like a fish in a net, the more he thrashes, the more he is doomed.thrash about/around• None the less to ward them off, lanterns are hung near the surface where the sharks thrash about.• More screams and grimaces and thrashing about, and then pure vertigo.• I struggle with them, thrashing around, and wake up to the alarm.• Ringo Starr was rolled out for the encores and thrashed about enthusiastically enough.• The mare thrashes about in the enclosure for a moment, then finds an opening and moves easily through it.• Their heads thrash about on the bloodied floor, gnashing their teeth and foaming at the mouth.• Raving and thrashing about, the victim becomes gradually weaker and, if lucky, may eventually become unconscious.• He's a restless sleeper, kicking and thrashing about throughout the night.thrashthrash2 noun 1 [singular]SIDE a violent movement from side to side2 [uncountable] informalAPM a type of loud fast rock music3 [countable] British English old-fashionedPARTY a loud noisy partyExamples from the Corpus
thrash• There's a bloody thrash metal band, actually.• Rebel against the party line and the usually dreary office thrash will become a real glam ball.• And I was sorry to miss you at the Keppels's thrash.• Conversation was limited by the roar of the engine and the thrash of the bow waves.• Anne heard the tinny thrash of muted music.• Just withering thrash grooves that shoot past in a punch-drunk blur, leaving their peers way behind.Origin thrash1 (1500-1600) thresh 