slash

Everyday

1. To cut something with a long, quick, violent stroke of a blade. tree →
2. To reduce prices, costs or numbers by a lot. tree →
3. (noun) A long cut or a wild sweeping blow. tree →
4. (noun) The sloping line symbol /, used in writing, fractions, dates and web addresses. tree →
5. (UK, slang, rude-ish) «Have a slash» means go for a wee (urinate); it is crude and not for school. tree →

In the lessons

In maths the slash shows a fraction or division (3/4, 10/2); in dates in the UK 10/10/2026 means day/month/year, but in the USA it is month/day/year. In shops «prices slashed!» means big discounts. In stories slashing describes sword fights or ripped tyres. Phrases: «slash and burn» (clearing forest by cutting and burning, in geography).

Examples

• Write three quarters as 3/4, with a slash. tree →
• The shop has slashed its prices by half. tree →
• The pirate slashed the rope with his sword. tree →
• Someone slashed the tyres on our car. tree →
• Type "and/or" with a slash between the words. tree →
• Farmers in some rainforests use slash-and-burn farming. tree →
• There was a long slash in the tent after the storm. tree →
• (UK slang, crude) "Back in a minute, I need a slash." tree →
• He slashed into them with a stick and brought them low. tree →

Note

Regular verb; plural «slashes». The symbol «/» is also called a forward slash or oblique; «\» is a backslash. In maths, a/b means a divided by b. A price «slashed by 50%» is halved.