OT- What do you think the following expression means

[Thermodyne]

Well the oldest reference I have seen with it referred to shooting people with hand guns in the early 18th century. It referred to the large amount of smoke that exited the wound. This was from the slow burning powder being forced into the wound with the round. Pistols were very short range weapons in the days before grooved barrels. This use has made it to the 21st century as a way of replacing the word "kill".

In my life it has been mostly used to describe a sound defeat in a car race. Smoked em, Blew the doors off, and Shut’em down, all meaning the same thing.

Of late the kids around here use it to acknowledge the delivery of a stinging insult.