go to smash

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

To go to ruin; to fail disastrously.

Register: dated, slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

[…] do we see any improbability in the bankrupt's elder brother doing this much for him after his shoe business went to smash […]

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “go to smash” mean?

To go to ruin; to fail disastrously.

Is “go to smash” formal or informal?

go to smash is generally dated, slang.