Crush Meaning, Origin and Examples

Crush Meaning

• A crush is a strong, often short-lived feeling of romantic or infatuated attraction toward someone, usually accompanied by excitement or admiration

What Does Crush Mean?

A crush generally refers to having romantic feelings or attraction toward someone, often without them knowing about it. It’s a term typically used to describe someone we may find appealing, such as a classmate, coworker, or celebrity. For instance, “George has a crush on Juanita.” The term can also be used as a verb, where ‘to crush’ means to have such feelings for someone.

Origin of Crush

The word crush has been part of the English language for centuries. As a verb, it originally meant to forcefully press or squeeze something, which is still a common definition today. The slang term for romantic attraction is believed to have emerged in the late 19th century. In this context, the meaning of crush has evolved to signify the emotional pressure or intense feelings one experiences when they are attracted to someone.

Other Meanings of Crush

1. Physical action: As a verb, ‘to crush’ can be used to describe the act of compressing or exerting pressure on something, often with the intent of breaking it or altering its structure. For example, “She crushed the paper into a ball”.
2. Defeat: Another meaning for crush is to completely defeat or subdue an opponent, as in “The team crushed their rivals in the game.”
3. Overwhelm: In certain contexts, crush can also indicate being deeply affected or overwhelmed by a situation or piece of news, such as “His spirit was crushed by the devastating news.”

Commonly Confused Terms with Crush

Crush vs. Crash

• Crush: This term typically refers to a romantic attraction or intense adoration towards someone that is not openly expressed. It could also mean to compress or squeeze something with considerable force. For example, “She has a crush on her coworker,” or “He crushed the aluminum can.”
• Crash: Crash primarily means a collision or violent impact, usually associated with vehicle accidents or the forceful collision of objects. For example, “There was a car crash on the highway,” or “The vase crashed onto the floor.” To help differentiate these terms, remember that a crush is about attraction or pressure, while a crash involves collision or impact.

Crush vs. Love

• Crush: A crush is a temporary and casual romantic attraction towards someone, often fading over a short period of time. It is usually characterized by infatuation and idealization of the person you’re attracted to. For example, “She developed a crush on the new guy at work.”
• Love: Love is a deep emotional bond and appreciation for someone that develops over time. It entails genuine care, affection, and understanding between two people involved in a relationship. Unlike a crush, love is lasting and more profound. For example, “They’ve been in love for years, and their relationship still thrives.”

Crush vs. Like

• Crush: As mentioned earlier, a crush refers to an infatuation or romantic feelings towards someone that are not openly expressed. It usually involves admiration and idealization of the other person’s qualities, as well as a desire to be closer to them. For example, “He has a crush on his friend’s sister.”
• Like: To like someone means to have a favorable opinion or feelings towards them, not necessarily in a romantic sense. Liking someone can be based on various factors, such as shared interests, personalities, or talents. For example, “We both like each other because of our shared passion for art.”

Crush Examples

In Conversations

• Person 1: Did you see the way Alex looked at you? I think he has a crush on you.
• Person 2: Really? I never noticed. I’ve always thought he was just being friendly.
• Person 1: Trust me, it’s more than that. You should talk to him and see where it goes.
• Person 2: I don’t know, I’ve never had a crush on someone from work before.
• Person 1: Well, there’s a first time for everything!

In Texting and Social Posts

• “Just saw my crush at the cafe. ???? #swooning”
• “Finally worked up the courage to text my crush. Wish me luck! ????”
• “That moment when your crush likes your post. #winning ????”
• “Spent the whole day with my crush and it was amazing. ❤️”
• “Can’t stop thinking about my crush. Is it too soon to make a move? ????”
• “When your crush walks by and you try to act cool but end up tripping over your own feet. ???? #embarrassing”
• “My crush just texted me back and I’m over the moon. ????”
• “Trying to play it cool around my crush like… ???? #crushproblems”

Other Examples of “Crush”

Apart from romantic context, the term “crush” can also be used to describe a strong force or victory. Some examples include:

• “The heavy machinery crushed the rocks into gravel for construction.”
• “Our team crushed their opponents in last night’s basketball game.”

In each of these examples, “crush” is used in a confident, knowledgeable, neutral, and clear manner, effectively conveying the meaning in English.

Crush Terminology

Related Terms to Crush

• Infatuation: This is a state of being intensely interested in someone, usually short-lived and superficial.
• Attraction: A feeling of being drawn to someone, physically or emotionally, often leading to a crush or deeper feelings.

Synonyms for Crush

• Fancy: To take a liking or interest in someone.
• Admire: To have a high opinion of someone, often including romantic feelings.
• Desire: A strong wish or urge for something, or in this case, someone.
• Enamored: To be filled with a feeling of love for someone.

Antonyms for Crush

• Dislike: To not like or feel aversion towards someone.
• Indifference: To not care or have a neutral opinion about someone.
• Repulsion: To be strongly pushed away or turned off by someone.