ash

In the sport of hurling, the sound of opponents' hurleys (long paddle-like sticks, made from ash wood) striking each other, or (by extension) the contest between two hurling teams in general. Primarily heard in Ireland. It was an intense match, and the fierce clash of the ash could be heard ringing through the pitch. Fans are gearing up for spectacular clash of the ash this Saturday afternoon.

slang To engage in sexual activity, especially intercourse; to achieve sexual release or gratification. Also phrased as "haul one's ashes." After six months at sea, everyone onboard was anxious to get their ashes hauled.

To act in a way that shows one's penitence or remorse for one's misdeeds or poor behavior. Darren has been wearing sackcloth and ashes ever since his girlfriend broke up with him for cheating on her. There's no way to turn back time on the way I treated my brother growing up. All I can do now is wear sackcloth and ashes.

Behaving in a way that shows one's penitence or remorse for one's misdeeds or poor behavior. Darren has been in sackcloth and ashes ever since his girlfriend broke up with him for cheating on her. There's no way to turn back time on the way I treated my brother growing up. All I can do now is stay in sackcloth and ashes.

Fig. [for a structure] to be rebuilt after destruction. The entire west section of the city was destroyed and a group of new buildings rose from the ashes in only a few months. Will the city rise again from the ashes? No one knows.

to think about or to talk about unpleasant events from the past There is no point in raking over the ashes now, you did what you thought was right at the time.

if you wear sackcloth and ashes, you show by your behaviour that you are very sorry for something you did wrong I've already apologized. How long must I wear sackcloth and ashes before you'll forgive me?

Emerge as new from something that has been destroyed, as in A few months after the earthquake large sections of the city had risen from the ashes. This expression alludes to the legendary phoenix, a bird that supposedly rose from the ashes of its funeral pyre with renewed youth.

Mourning or penitence, as in What I did to Julie's child was terrible, and I've been in sackcloth and ashes ever since . This term refers to the ancient Hebrew custom of indicating humility before God by wearing a coarse cloth, normally used to make sacks, and dusting oneself with ashes. In English it appeared in William Tyndale's 1526 biblical translations (Matthew 11:21), "They [the cities Tyre and Sidon] had repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes."