Slang

total

This page is about the slang term total

American and Australian English

Meaning

to completely destroy, to wreck

For example

  • My son was in an accident last night, and thankfully he wasn't hurt. He totalled our car, though.

  • Mandy's car was totalled when a huge tree fell on it in the hurricane.

Variety

This is typically used in American and Australian English but may be used in other varieties of English too.

Quick Quiz

My car was totalled, so I'll have to

a. buy another one

b. drive it home

c. clean it up
a) buy another one b) drive it home c) clean it up

See Slang of the Day today

Contributor: Matt Errey