Slew vs Slay - What's the difference?
slew | slay |
(US) A large amount.
(nautical) To rotate or turn something about its axis.
To veer a vehicle.
To insert extra ticks or skip some ticks of a clock to slowly correct its time.
To pivot.
To skid.
(rail transport) to move something (usually a railway line) sideways
(transitive, British, slang) To make a public mockery of someone through insult or wit.
(slay)
To kill, murder.
(literary) To eradicate or stamp out.
(by extension, colloquial) To defeat, overcome.
* 1956', “Giants '''Slay Bears in Pro Title Battle”, in ''Lodi News-Sentinel , 1956 December 31,
* 1985', “Redskins '''slay Giants; Thiesmann shatters leg”, in ''The Gadsden Times , 1985 November 19,
* 1993 , Jack Curry, “
(slang) To delight or overwhelm, especially with laughter.
As verbs the difference between slew and slay
is that slew is (nautical) to rotate or turn something about its axis or slew can be (slay) while slay is to kill, murder.As a noun slew
is (us) a large amount or slew can be the act, or process of slaying.slew
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) (noun only)Noun
(en noun)- She has a slew of papers and notebooks strewn all over her desk.
See also
* onslaughtEtymology 2
In all senses, a mostly British spelling of slue.Verb
(en verb)- The single line was slewed onto the disused up formation to make way for the future redoubling
Etymology 3
Verb
(head)See also
* slainAnagrams
*slay
English
Verb
- The knight slew the dragon.
- Our foes must all be slain .
- You must slay these thoughts.
page 8.
page D1-5.
Yanks’ Bullpen Falls Short Again”, in The New York Times , 1993 April 21:
- The Yankees were actually slayed by two former Yankees because Rich Gossage pitched one scoreless inning in relief of Eckersley to notch his first victory.
- Ha ha! You slay me!
Usage notes
* The alternative past tense and past participle form "slayed" is most strongly associated with the slang sense, "to delight or overwhelm": *: {{quote-book, i2=*::, 1929, Harry Charles Witwer, Yes Man's Landcitation, passage="Cutey, you slayed me !" grins Jackie, working fast. "I guess that's what made the rest of 'em look so bad — you was so good!"}} * In recent use, "slayed" is also often found associated with the other senses as well. However, this is widely considered nonstandard."But slayed cannot be considered established in such use. Whether it eventually becomes established remains to be seen." — '>citation * A review of US usage 2000-2009 in COCA suggests that "slayed" is increasing in popularity, but remains less common than "slew". It is very rare in UK usage (BNC).
