Basic Details
Word: Smithereens
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Very small pieces or fragments of something that has been destroyed or blown apart.
Synonyms: Fragments, bits, shards
Antonyms: Whole, intact
Idioms and Phrases
- Smashed to smithereens: To be completely destroyed or broken. Example: "The old car was smashed to smithereens in the accident."
- Blown to smithereens: To be blown apart completely, often by an explosion. Example: "The fireworks display left the night sky looking like it had been blown to smithereens."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The children accidentally hit the vase, and it fell to the ground, shattering into smithereens.
Example 2: After the storm, the old tree lay in smithereens, with branches scattered everywhere.
Example 3: The demolition team worked all day to reduce the old building to smithereens.
Fun Fact
Interestingly, the word "smithereens" is believed to have originated from the Irish word "smidirÃnÃ," which means "small fragments." This gives the word a rich cultural background linking it to the idea of tiny pieces from Ireland!
Famous Quote
"Life is a series of smashes and smithereens, and how we deal with them defines who we are." - Unknown
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "smithereens" mean?
a) A type of flower
b) Very small pieces of something destroyed
c) A type of bird
d) A large object
Answer: b) Very small pieces of something destroyed
2. Which of these is a synonym of "smithereens"?
a) Whole
b) Bits
c) Large fragments
d) Solid object
Answer: b) Bits
3. Which sentence uses "smithereens" correctly?
a) The glass fell and broke into smithereens.
b) The boy tried to swim in the smithereens.
c) The teacher taught us about smithereens.
d) The sun was shining bright above the smithereens.
Answer: a) The glass fell and broke into smithereens.
4. Which idiom means to be completely destroyed?
a) Smashed to smithereens
b) In the clouds
c) The whole nine yards
d) Out of the blue
Answer: a) Smashed to smithereens
5. What is the opposite of "smithereens"?
a) Whole
b) Small
c) Shattered
d) Broken
Answer: a) Whole
