Emphasizes that the subject is so boring it's almost impressive. The lecture was such a crashing bore, I almost admired the speaker's dedication to dullness.
Pro Tip 2/3
Informal Use
Used in casual conversation, not in formal writing or speeches. My date turned out to be a crashing bore with endless stories about traffic.
Pro Tip 3/3
Slight Rudeness
Can be seen as offensive if used directly about someone in their presence. Be careful not to call someone a crashing bore in a social setting; it's quite rude.