Use as a phrase One of many sports idioms, the phrase "slam dunk" is often used outside of basketball to refer colloquially to something that has a certain outcome or guaranteed success (a "sure thing")."He Shoots, He Scores; She Shoots, She Scores. 'Slam Dunk' Terms Resound". Voice of America News. 14 March 2007 This is related to the high probability of success for a slam dunk versus other types of shots. Additionally, to "be dunked on" or to get "posterized" is sometimes popularly used to indicate that a person has been easily embarrassed by another, in reference to the embarrassment associated with unsuccessfully trying to prevent an opponent from making a dunk. This ascension to popular usage is reminiscent of, for example, the way that the baseball-inspired phrases "step up to the plate" and "he hit it out of the park," or American football-inspired phrases such as "victory formation" or "hail Mary" have entered popular North American vernacular.
uSe As a pHrase one of MAnY SPorts idiOMs, thE PHrase "SlAM DUnk" is OfTeN uSed outSide Of baSketball tO reFer COLloqUiaLly to someTHING thAt Has a ceRtaIn ouTCOme oR guaranteeD suCceSs (a "suRE thing")."hE shOotS, he SCOreS; sHe ShoOTS, sHE scoRes. 'slam DuNk' tErms ResOunD". voiCe of america nEwS. 14 mArCH 2007 this is relATed To the hiGH probAbiLiTy Of SUCCess for a SLam dunk VeRsUS othER Types of shots. addiTiOnaLly, to "be DuNkeD on" Or tO get "posterized" is sOmetimEs popuLArLy used tO iNDIcate That a pErsoN has beeN eAsily emBarRasSEd bY anothEr, in rEfeREnce to tHe EmbarRaSSMEnT ASsoCiatEd witH unSuccEssfUllY tryinG to prevent an opponEnt frOm MAking a dUnk. this AScenSion to POPulaR usaGe is reMiniScent Of, for exAmple, thE way thaT thE bAsebAll-inspIRed phraseS "sTep up to THE plaTE" and "he HiT IT ouT OF the park," OR AMEricAn fOoTBAll-inspireD PhRASes sUCH As "vIcToRY formaTion" or "hail mary" hAve ENtErED pOpulaR nOrth AMeRican VErNaCUlar.