Clouting

Clouting, in its primary sense, refers to the act of striking or hitting, often with a forceful blow. It implies the use of a hand, object, or weapon to inflict physical contact. Beyond the literal act, 'clouting' can also describe the act of dealing a figurative blow, such as damaging someone's reputation or harshly criticizing an idea. The intensity of 'clouting' varies depending on the context, ranging from a gentle tap to a devastating strike. Its connotations often involve a deliberate action intended to cause some form of impact or change, be it physical or metaphorical. Clouting, in a less common sense, can be used for the covering of a building with wooden planks, which is now largely a dated usage of the word.

Clouting meaning with examples

• The boxer, with a perfectly timed counter, unleashed a devastating clouting blow that sent his opponent sprawling across the canvas. The crowd gasped, witnessing the raw power of the punch. Years of training had honed his skills and the precision with which he delivered that clouting blow. This single action secured his victory and cemented his place in the boxing history books.
• After the scathing review, the author felt the critic had delivered a significant clouting to his latest novel. It was as if they had taken the time to deliver one stinging blow after the other, destroying all of his efforts. The clouting left him feeling deflated and questioning his abilities as a writer. He resolved to spend the next six months working on his new novel, and finding a new publishing team.
• The construction workers were clouting the framework of the new house with wooden planks, ensuring a solid and weather-resistant structure. With each clouting swing of their hammers, the building took on a more definitive shape. They worked diligently, knowing the integrity of the build depended on the precise clouting of each plank. Their dedication to their task was obvious.
• The political campaign employed negative advertisements, and the opposing candidate felt that their reputation was unfairly clouted by the accusations. He knew that he had to do everything possible to fight against the constant barrage of negative advertisements. Despite his best efforts, the impact from this clouting of his political campaign was devastating, as voters started to believe the claims.