spanking

Everyday

1. A punishment by hitting a child's bottom with an open hand, done in the past by parents and some teachers. tree →
2. (adjective, old-fashioned) Fast, lively and fine: «at a spanking pace», «a spanking breeze». tree →
3. (adverb, informal) Very, used with «new»: «spanking new» means brand new and shiny. tree →

In the lessons

In the Just So Stories the Elephant's Child is spanked again and again by his tall aunts and uncles because of his «satiable curtiosity», until he gets his long trunk and spanks them back. Today hitting children is against the law in many countries, including Scotland, Wales, Ireland and New Zealand, and many people think it is wrong; stories from long ago show it as normal. «Spanking new» and «a spanking pace» are harmless everyday phrases.

Examples

• In the old days a naughty child might get a spanking. tree →
• The Elephant's Child was spanked by all his relatives for asking questions. tree →
• The new bus was spanking new and smelled of paint. tree →
• The horses trotted along at a spanking pace. tree →
• A spanking breeze filled the sails of the little boat. tree →
• Smacking and spanking children is now banned in Scotland and Wales. tree →
• Our school has a spanking new gym. tree →

Note

Countable as a punishment («a spanking»). «Spanking new» means only «very new», nothing about hitting. The verb is «spank»; past «spanked».