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1.1informal Defeat thoroughly in a match or contest.
‘the Cleveland Indians drubbed Baltimore 9–0’
‘The World Champion became only the fifth man to hold UK and World Championships in the same year as he drubbed Ken Doherty 10-1 in the final at the Barbican Centre.’
‘But on the other hand, it isn't good entertainment to see the same side getting drubbed again and again and again.’
‘Halladay implied some criticism of his game-calling after the Orioles drubbed him last Friday.’
‘Kandia's young reserves managed half that tally, drubbing their Empire opponents 5-1.’
‘In 1999, Crowley repeated the feat, this time drubbing Collins.’
‘Terrell had climbed the ladder thanks to a three-way shoot-out victory over Australia's Maxine Nable and Robin Crawford, but Kulick drubbed her, 256-185, to advance to the final.’
‘Ben Franklin drubs Thomas Jefferson in the race to be our nation's foremost Renaissance man.’
‘He was drubbed defensively, allowing six points by Denver's Kenyon Martin in the first four minutes.’
‘But no-one really understood that Mauger was the missing ingredient until he returned to the side that drubbed the Springboks 52-16 in the opening Tri-Nations match.’
Origin
Early 17th century: probably from Arabic ḍaraba ‘to beat, bastinado’. The first recorded uses in English are by travellers in the Near East referring specifically to the punishment of bastinado.