The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word SLAM
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
S
L
A
M
More clues leading to the result SLAM
- Creed not one to criticise harshly
- . Harshly criticise second strike
- Criticise guys going round taking ecstasy
- . Harshly criticize second hit
- Criticise achievement of card player
- Strike that involves a lot of tricks
- Smash slate
- Severely criticise second strike
- Criticise what needs a lot of tricks to succeed
- Berate small City male
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Smash/slate" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case smash/slate = slam.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SLAM mean?
SLAM noun- A sudden impact or blow.
- The shock and noise produced by violently closing a door or other object.
- A slam dunk.
- An insult.
- The yellow iron silicate produced in alum works as a waste product.
- A poetry slam.
- A slambook.
- The refuse of alum works.
- A subgenre of death metal with elements of hardcore punk focusing on midtempo rhythms, breakdowns and palm-muted riffs
- To shut with sudden force so as to produce a shock and noise.
- To put in or on a particular place with force and loud noise. (Often followed by a preposition such as down, against or into.)
- To strike forcefully with some implement.
- To strike against suddenly and heavily.
- To speak badly of; to criticize forcefully.
- To dunk forcefully, to slam dunk.
- To make a slam bid.
- To defeat (opponents at cards) by winning all the tricks of a deal or a hand.
- To change providers (e.g. of domain registration or telephone carrier) for a customer without clear (if any) consent.
- To drink off, to drink quickly.
- To compete in a poetry slam.
- To inject intravenously; shoot up.
- A type of card game, also called ruff and honours.
- A card game, played all at once without separate turns, in which players attempt to get rid of their cards as quickly as possible according to certain rules.
- Losing or winning all the tricks in a game.
- A bid of six (small slam) or seven (grand slam) in a suit or no trump.
- Winning all (or all but one) of the available, major or specified events in a given year or sports season.
- To defeat by winning all the tricks of a deal or a hand.
- A shambling fellow.