Use 'bash in' for strong, damaging impacts, implying more force than a simple hit. She got so angry that she bashed in the mailbox with a baseball bat.
Pro Tip 2/3
Intentional Damage
'Bash in' can suggest intentional harm or damage to an object, not just accidental. In the movie, the hero bashed in the villain's hideout gate.
Pro Tip 3/3
Destructive Force
The phrase emphasizes a destructive level of force that changes the shape or functionality of something. The storm was so powerful it bashed in the rooftop.