zinghttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zing_v%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezing, v.
Revised 2021

zingverb

colloquial (originally U.S.).
    1. 1.a.
      1899–
      intransitive. Esp. of a bullet or other object passing rapidly through the air: to make a sharp, high-pitched ringing or twanging sound. Hence: to move or progress rapidly, or with energy, enthusiasm, or liveliness. Frequently with adverb or prepositional phrase expressing direction.
      1. 1899
        About our ears a bumblebee's nest of Mauser bullets were zinging and zooing.
        Butte (Montana) Weekly Miner 6 April 3/5
      2. 1920
        Go zinging along on a fast ice-boat.
        S. Lewis, Main Street ii. 18
      3. 1947
        Cables which zing from London to Washington always refer to the British Foreign Office as Whitehall.
        Washington Post 19 December 3c/1
      4. 1973
        As pure escapist entertainment..the movie zings right along.
        Playboy May 44/1
      5. 2004
        At this rate the house was going to end up like Beirut, with sniper fire zinging in all directions.
        J. Mansell, One you really Want xiv. 78
    2. 1.b.
      1907–
      transitive. To cause (something) to move rapidly; esp. to hit or throw (an object) with great speed. Frequently with adverb or prepositional phrase expressing direction.
      1. 1907
        Bobby Eager, who had his batting eye right with him, zinged the ball over Cates' scalp.
        Los Angeles Herald 11 July 8/1
      2. 1992
        I kept their attention..by zinging pieces of chalk against the back wall when they fell asleep in class.
        H. N. Schwarzkopf, It doesn't take Hero ix. 137
      3. 2019
        Andy glimpses the ball coming towards him, whirls, catches it, and zings it back to Heywood.
        M. Dawidziak, Shawshank Redempt. Revealed 151
    3. 1.c.
      1966–
      intransitive. To be filled or alive with energy, excitement, etc.; to be vibrant or lively.
      1. 1966
        Innocent white wool dress with coat in photograph 1 is example of controlled exuberance in fashion designing. Every understated line is zinging with energy.
        Washington Post 23 October f13/1 (caption)
      2. 1989
        I had been quiet and apparently relaxed when everyone else had been zinging with nervous tension.
        M. Moffatt, Coming of Age in New Jersey i. 11
      3. 2009
        Carved from wood, and with their colours still zinging, the statues are life-sized and anatomically precise.
        Church Times 4 December 11/3
      4. 2015
        In its very best moments, the film zings with an Aardman-esque zaniness that feels like pure Wright.
        Daily Telegraph 17 July 27/2
  1. 2.
    1962–
    transitive. To subject (a person, organization, etc.) to sharp criticism.
    1. 1962
      Gene Woodling zinged him in a blast of an interview.
      Las Vegas Sun 22 March 23/1
    2. 1974
      In the eighth, Mitterwald doubled and..the rest of the Cubs zinged him for not hitting a fourth homer.
      Evening Herald (Rock Hill, South Carolina) 18 April 7/4
    3. 2014
      ‘How stupid they are,’ the pair sang, zinging NBC as a surprised, bemused Leno watched.
      Pretoria News (Nexis) 28 February (E1 edition) 9
  2. 3.
    1975–
    transitive. To deliver (a witticism, question, etc.) in a rapid, forceful, and effective manner. Also with out. Cf. zinger n. 2.
    1. 1975
      [Nixon] read what they wrote and surprised them later by remembering it and occasionally zinging it back at them.
      W. Safire, Before Fall iii. vi. 179
    2. 1977
      Her usual practice of zinging brash, hostile questions at world leaders.
      Time 10 January 26/2
    3. 2018
      Frances and Malcolm make for a memorable double act, with Frances in particular zinging out waspish one-liners.
      Times (National edition) (Nexis) 15 September 17

zing, v. was revised in March 2021.

zing, v. was last modified in July 2023.