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Mash up

verb MASH-up maʃ ʌp

Also spelled: mash-up, mashup, mash op

Meaning

To destroy, ruin, wreck or break something badly; also, as a noun or adjective, something in a state of ruin. It implies more thorough damage than simply 'break', suggesting the thing is beyond easy repair.

Examples

  • “Di storm mash up di whole a mi roof.”

    The storm destroyed my entire roof.

    Thorough destruction rather than a single break.

  • “Yuh mash up di plan when yuh chat too much.”

    You ruined the plan when you talked too much.

    Figurative sense of spoiling something.

  • “Mi car mash up an mi cyaan drive it.”

    My car is wrecked and I can't drive it.

    Adjectival use describing a broken-down state.

Origin

From English 'mash' (to crush) plus 'up', a common Patois intensifying particle that stresses completeness of the action.

How it's used

Very common and appropriate in all casual settings. Can also positively describe a great performance ('di artiste mash up di show' means he thrilled the crowd), so context decides whether it is praise or damage. Widely known abroad through reggae and dancehall.

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