écrabouiller

Senses

1. 1.

   to squash; to crush

   to flatten or compress by pressing hard

2. 2.

   to flatten; to run over

   to subject to pressure that destroys or deforms

Examples

• "La voiture a écrabouillé une boîte en carton."

  The car squashed a cardboard box.

• "Tu vas écrabouiller le gâteau si tu l'emballes mal."

  You're going to squash the cake if you wrap it badly.

• "Il s'est écrabouillé contre le mur en tombant."

  He was flattened against the wall when he fell.

Usage

Informal and colloquial verb, often playful in tone. Commonly used with objects that are soft or crushable. Can also be used reflexively (s'écrabouiller) to describe being squashed oneself. Emphasizes the visual or physical spectacle of crushing.