dunk

be a slam dunk

To be predicted or expected to be successful; to be something that achieves success or a certain goal easily. All the best players in school are on our team—victory will be a slam dunk! I thought it would be a slam dunk to pass, but the bill didn't even make it out of committee.
See also: dunk, slam

dunk in(to) (something)

1. To submerge quickly into a body of liquid. I dunked into the lake to rinse the muck off my body. The kids love dunking in the creek behind our house on hot summer days.
2. To push someone or something quickly into a liquid. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dunk" and "in(to)." Being nice to your little brother does not include dunking him into the pool, OK? I can't eat French fries without dunking them in ketchup first.
3. To slam a basketball through a basket from above. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dunk" and "in(to)." He intercepted the other player's pass, dribbled the ball up the court, and dunked it effortlessly in the net. I've never been able to dunk a basketball into a basket. I just can't jump that high.
4. To slam something into a basket or similar receptacle, in the manner of a basketball being dunked. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dunk" and "in(to)." A: "Did the boss like your proposal?" B: "Well, she took a look at it, crumpled the paper up into a ball, and dunked it in the trashcan beside her desk. So, no, he didn't like it."
See also: dunk

dunk on (someone)

slang To best someone in a spectacular fashion and/or in a way that is humiliating to them. In basketball, to "dunk on" a defender is to perform a slam dunk over them, a move often considered humiliating to the defender. The phrase is commonly used in a passive construction ("(one) got dunked on"). Here's the part of the debate where she really dunks on him by completely destroying his argument. You can't just tweet at this person and make fun of their opinion. If you really want to dunk on them, you have to correct their horrible grammar too.
See also: dunk, on

get dunked on

slang To be bested by someone in a spectacular fashion and/or in a way that is humiliating to one. In basketball, to "dunk on" a defender is to perform a slam dunk over them, a move often considered humiliating to the defender. Here's the part of the debate where she really got dunked on—he totally destroys her argument! Sit down, son, you just got dunked on.
See also: dunk, get, on

slam dunk

1. noun Literally, a goal scored in basketball by putting the ball straight down into the hoop with one's hand. The move isn't worth more points than a traditional basket, but it is a show of force, dominance, and skill. Because of his incredible height, Sam racked up more slam dunks than any other player in the league.
2. noun By extension, a forceful, dramatic success or accomplishment, especially one that is completed handily or easily. This conviction was a slam dunk for the district attorney's office. Their latest smartphone is yet another slam dunk for the electronics manufacturer.
3. verb Literally, to score a slam dunk in basketball. Sometimes hyphenated. You need to stop trying to slam dunk every time you're near the net. She's been slam-dunking against the other team all evening.
4. verb By extension, to achieve a forceful, dramatic success or accomplishment handily or easily, often at the expense of someone or something else. Sometimes hyphenated. The incumbent president has slam dunked his opponent in every televised debate so far. If we can slam-dunk this proposal, we'll get enough funding to see us through to the end of next year.
See also: dunk, slam
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

dunk someone or something into something

 and dunk someone or something in
to submerge someone or something in something, fully or partially. They dunked him into the pool as a way of celebrating. Liz pulled the cup of coffee toward herself and dunked in her doughnut. She dunked herself into the cold water for just a minute.
See also: dunk

slam dunk

 
1. Lit. [in basketball] a goal scored by shooting the ball down from above the rim. He was wide open and scored on an easy slam dunk.
2. Fig. an action or accomplishment that is easily done. Finishing that project with all his experience should be a slam dunk for George.
See also: dunk, slam
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

slam dunk

A forceful, dramatic move, as in That indictment was a slam dunk if ever there was one. This expression is also often put as a verb, slam-dunk, meaning "make a forceful move against someone," as in This is a great chance for us to slam-dunk the opposition. The idiom comes from basketball, where it refers to a dramatic shot in which the ball is thrust into the basket from above the rim. It was transferred to other activities from about 1980 on.
See also: dunk, slam
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

be a ˈslam dunk

(American English) be something that is certain to be successful: The case looked like a slam dunk for the prosecution.
In basketball, a slam dunk is the act of jumping up and putting the ball through the net with a lot of force.
See also: dunk, slam
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

slam dunk

1. tv. & in. to force a basketball into the basket from above. (see also jam.) Wilbur slam dunked another one, raising the score from 108 to 110.
2. n. an act of making a basket as in sense 1 Another slam dunk and Wilbur ties the score again!
See also: dunk, slam
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

slam dunk

A very forceful move. This term comes from basketball, where it denotes a strong and often dramatic shot in which the player leaps up and thrusts the ball into the basket from above. Both term and technique date from the 1960s, and by the 1980s the term was being used in business, politics, and other areas, both as a noun and as a verb (to slam dunk). The Boston Globe has used it in both forms: “‘I fear they assume this election will be a slam dunk,’ Rollins said” (July 24, 1991), and “I found that very energizing. . . . There was a real opportunity to slam dunk that one” (May 5, 1992). It is well on its way to cliché status.
See also: dunk, slam
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • be a slam dunk
  • slam
  • easy come, easy go
  • lightly
  • shoo-in
  • cut corners
  • cut corners, to
  • just (you) watch
  • watch!
  • be not for the faint-hearted
References in periodicals archive
Former Atlanta Hawks guard Spud Webb was the shortest player to ever win the NBA's Slam Dunk contest, standing only 1.7 m tall and weighing 60 kg.
Slam! (Basketball)
"I think organizations have to look at assessing what is the absentee issue," Dunk says.
Family, health issues affect work
Lewis Dunk made his England debut at Wembley last November
Lewis Dunk talks Wembley nerves ahead of chance of a lifetime against Man City; EXCLUSIVE Brighton star Lewis Dunk is back at Wembley and determined to ensure they take their FA Cup final chance
Dunk, hoping to make his first cup appearances this arances season at the intimidating Den, said: "They are both places we are going to get stick.
GLAM DUNK; Lewis: 20,000 gave me stick.. that's no problem
As Mack reached to catch the pass, LaVine ran in from behind to collect a steal and uncontested dunk for the go-ahead basket.
A tale of two dunks McGraw: Markkanen gets more involved
After Mr Dunk was reported missing there was a major police search as he was considered to be at risk, but he was not found.
Depressed OAP's suicide in rail tunnel
After stealing a pass for a dunk, Olynyk assisted on a three-point play by Jared Sullinger, who led all scorers with 11 in the first half and finished with 13.
Celtics can't tip Dallas; Rally falls short as Boston fades
Proudly wearing his Newcastle United shirt on Wear-Tyne derby day, he enthused: "This was all about bringing the BBL Dunk Championship back to the Toon!
Eagles' dunk king; SPORT SHORTS: BASKETBALL
"The trouble with ordinary biscuits is that they were never designed to be dunked a few seconds in hot tea or coffee and they simply disintegrate.
Now, an 'unsinkable' biscuit made from potato!
Now, however, dunking is in the mainstream and one of Britain's poshest shops -- Waitrose, no less -- has declared its verdict on the best and the worst biscuits to dunk. Ginger nuts are the number one favourite since they become more gingery and still hold on to their crunchy texture following a three-second immersion in a cup of tea.
KATE ROBERTS: Immersed in the crunch battle over changing social niceties
Says Brancazio: "That's a leap the average playground player can do." By contrast, a 5'6" teenager needs a vertical leap of 45 inches to make the dunk. "Any vertical leap over 36 inches is exceptional," adds Brancazio.
Slum dunk science: Smash! When a backboard shatters, who should take the penalty-the slam dunker or science?
The irritating hacksaw Bozo voice is so faithful to the author's description that the listener is almost as ready to dunk it (to shut him up) as are the bystanders on the boardwalk.
Dunk
So, as you prepare for your important board meeting in that critical power struggle, ensure you are fully armed with the most important item a corporate executive could hope for - the mid-morning dunk.
Small talk: Dunking research really takes the biscuit
Oklahoma City's Hamidou Diallo is the 2019 NBA Slam Dunk champion, besting returning contestant Dennis Smith Jr.
OKC's Hamidou Diallo is NBA 'Sultan of Slam'
The south coast club, who are without a win from their past three games, will be missing one of their key players for thePremier Leagueclash - captain Lewis Dunk.
Arsenal to benefit from strange law for Boxing Day clash against Brighton; The Gunners bounced back from back-to-back defeats to register an impressive victory over Burnley at the weekend