slay
slay — verb
- slaypresent simple I / you / we / they
- slayshe / she / it
- slewpast simple
- slainpast participle
- slaying-ing form
1. to kill a person or animal in a fierce attack, battle, or fight.
to kill a person or animal in a fierce attack, battle, or fight.
The knight slew the dragon before it reached the village gate.
literary past tense: slew + object
Rebel troops slew dozens of guards during the midnight attack.
The hunter was accused of slaying a rare wolf near the farm.
Ancient songs tell how heroes slew sea monsters with bronze spears.
文法句型
slay + person/animal
be slain
用法筆記
Common in stories, history writing, and dramatic description. The object is usually an enemy, victim, or dangerous animal rather than an abstract idea.
2. to murder someone deliberately; often used in headlines or dramatic reports.
to murder someone deliberately; often used in headlines or dramatic reports.
The tabloid claimed a jealous neighbor had slain the actress.
news style: have slain + person
Police said the shop owner was slain outside the station.
Reporters wrote that the mayor's brother had been slain overnight.
The article described the banker as a man slain in his car.
- murder
the most direct neutral equivalent
- assassinate
used for an important public figure
- execute
suggests an official or ordered killing
- protect
to keep a person from harm
文法句型
slay + person
be slain
用法筆記
More specific than sense 1 because it focuses on intentional killing of a person. Passive forms such as 'was slain' are especially common in reports and headlines.
3. to amaze people because a performance, look, or result is exceptionally strong o
to amaze people because a performance, look, or result is exceptionally strong or stylish; in slang, something can slay simply by being excellent.
Sofia absolutely slayed in the dance final and won by four points.
informal: slay in [event] = perform brilliantly
That silver jacket slays on stage under the blue lights.
The chef's new dessert slayed the judges at the food festival.
Kian slayed every song in the set, so the crowd stayed standing.
文法句型
slay + audience/judges
[person/thing] + slay
用法筆記
Informal. Can be transitive ('slay the judges') or intransitive ('that outfit slays'). It is used for performance, style, appearance, or any result that wins strong admiration.
4. to leave someone feeling crushed by bad news, failure, or disappointment.
to leave someone feeling crushed by bad news, failure, or disappointment.
The harsh review slayed Eshe after months of careful work.
informal: bad news/criticism + slay + person
Hearing the breakup news completely slayed the youngest daughter.
The canceled visa interview slayed Michael, who had packed already.
Missing the final by one point slayed the whole team.
文法句型
slay + person/group
用法筆記
Informal and strongly emotional. The subject is usually bad news, a failure, or a hurtful comment rather than a physical attacker.
5. to affect someone so strongly with humor or charm that they laugh hard or feel h
to affect someone so strongly with humor or charm that they laugh hard or feel huge delight.
The puppet show slayed the children, and the room shook with laughter.
informal: slay + people = make them laugh hard
That tiny goat video slays me every single time.
Hao's dry jokes kept slaying everyone at lunch.
The grandmother's dance move slayed the wedding guests at once.
- bore
to make someone lose interest
文法句型
slay + people
用法筆記
Informal. This sense usually takes a person or group as the object and often suggests laughter, delight, or being unable to stay serious.
slay — adjective
- slaypositive
- slayercomparative
- slayestsuperlative
1. extremely good, attractive, stylish, or enjoyable in a bold, praise-heavy way.
extremely good, attractive, stylish, or enjoyable in a bold, praise-heavy way.
That new ramen place is slay, even on a rainy Tuesday.
informal predicative use: be slay
The final scene was so slay that everyone cheered.
Her silver nails looked slay with the black evening dress.
This playlist is slay from the first track to the last.
文法句型
be slay
look slay
用法筆記
Very informal, especially in online speech and pop-culture talk. Common after 'be' or 'look' when praising style, performance, or overall quality.
slay — noun
- slaysingular
- slaysplural
1. a person or thing that feels outstanding, lovable, or impressively good.
a person or thing that feels outstanding, lovable, or impressively good.
Anjali is such a slay for bringing soup to sick neighbors.
informal noun pattern: such a slay
That second-hand coat was a slay at only twenty dollars.
The new math tutor is a total slay in class.
The charity poster turned out to be a slay after one redesign.
- dud
something disappointing or poor
文法句型
a slay
such a slay
用法筆記
Informal. Usually used with 'a' before it, or after degree words like 'such' and 'total' when praising a person or thing.
slay — exclamation
1. said to show strong approval, or to thank someone in a playful, enthusiastic way
said to show strong approval, or to thank someone in a playful, enthusiastic way.
"Slay!" shouted the front row when Dario hit the high note.
standalone exclamation of approval
"Slay, thanks for fixing the slides before the meeting," the manager texted.
"Slay!" typed Tyler after seeing the finished costume photos.
"Slay, that was fast," Sofia replied when the parcel arrived.
文法句型
Slay!
Slay, thanks ...
用法筆記
Very informal and playful. It often appears in messages, comments, or shouted praise after a performance, and it can also soften a quick thank-you.