strike

strike1 [ straık ] (past tense and past participle struck [ strʌk ] ) verb ***

▸ 1 hit against

▸ 2 hit with hand, etc.

▸ 3 make violent attack

▸ 4 protest by not working

▸ 5 affect someone/something suddenly

▸ 6 when you think something

▸ 7 press instrument or key

▸ 8 make flame with match

▸ 9 clock: make sound

▸ 10 remove words

▸ 11 light: shine on something

▸ 12 make deal/agreement

▸ 13 find gold/oil etc.

▸ 14 make coin/medal

▸ 15 remove tent/sail etc.

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) intransitive or transitive FORMAL to hit against or crash into someone or something:

One of the bullets struck her forearm.

The boat struck bottom.

strike someone/something on the something: The ball struck her hard on the left shoulder.

be struck by something: She's in the hospital with head injuries after being struck by a car.

a ) transitive FORMAL to hurt a part of your body by accidentally knocking it against an object:

strike on: Gordon fell from his bike and struck his head on the ground.

b ) intransitive or transitive if LIGHTNING strikes something such as a tree or building, it hits it and damages or destroys it:

Can lightning ever strike twice in the same place?

Judy's house was struck by lightning during the storm.

2. ) transitive to hit someone or something with your hand, a tool, or a weapon:

strike someone/something on the something: He fled empty-handed after striking a security guard on the head.

strike something with something: Idiot! cried Simmons, striking his forehead with the palm of his hand.

strike (someone) a blow (on something): She had been struck a blow on the back of the head.

a ) transitive FORMAL to hit or kick something such as a ball with your hand, foot, or a piece of sports equipment:

She's really striking the ball well and has her confidence back.

He struck a vicious slap shot into the back of the net.

3. ) intransitive to make a sudden violent or illegal attack on someone or something:

Police say they fear the man could strike again.

The thief struck sometime between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

strike against: We will use these air bases to strike against the northern territories.

a ) intransitive or transitive to make a successful attack in a competition, especially by scoring a goal or point:

Anderson struck twice in three minutes in the first half.

Henry struck the winning goal seconds before the end of the game.

4. ) intransitive to refuse to work for a period of time as a protest about your pay or conditions at work:

striking factory workers

The right to strike was then established in the constitution.

strike for: Pilots were striking for a 6% pay increase.

strike over: Car workers were threatening to strike over the job losses.

5. ) intransitive or transitive if something unpleasant or dangerous strikes, or strikes someone or something, it happens suddenly and unexpectedly and causes harm or damage to them:

Accidents can strike at any time.

Three earthquakes struck Peru on April 5th and 6th.

tragedy strikes (someone/something): That same year, tragedy struck the family again.

disaster strikes (someone/something): Disaster struck within minutes of takeoff.

6. ) transitive never progressive if a thought or idea strikes you, it enters your mind suddenly or unexpectedly:

It was then that the thought struck her.

He stopped speaking, struck by a sudden thought.

The first thing that struck me about Alex was his amazing self-confidence.

it strikes someone that: It struck her that this was not perhaps the best time to bring up the subject.

it strikes someone how: It struck us how sick he was looking these days.

a ) strike someone as something never progressive to make someone have a particular opinion or feeling:

You don't strike me as a religious man, I said frankly.

strike someone as being something: He didn't strike me as being the jealous type.

it strikes someone as funny/odd/strange (that): It struck me as a little bit odd that she was always alone.

7. ) transitive to press a key or hit a musical instrument with a finger or hand in order to produce a note or series of notes

8. ) intransitive or transitive to rub a match with a short quick movement against a hard surface, producing a flame:

He struck a match, shading it with his hand.

The matches won't strike if they're damp.

9. ) intransitive or transitive if a clock strikes or strikes a particular time, it makes a sound like a bell a particular number of times to show what the time is:

The town hall clock struck midnight.

strike the hour (=make a sound at one o'clock, two o'clock, etc.): One of the clocks struck the hour.

10. ) transitive to remove words from a document, for example by drawing a line through them:

strike something from something: Their names should be struck from the list of candidates.

strike something from the record: The court reporter will strike that remark from the record.

11. ) transitive if light strikes something, it shines on it:

Her hair looks red when light strikes it.

12. ) transitive to make something such as a deal or an agreement by which both sides get an advantage or benefit:

strike a deal/bargain: These questions must be answered before a deal can be struck.

13. ) transitive to find something such as gold or oil by digging or DRILLING

1

a ) strike gold to suddenly become very rich or successful as a result of finding or doing something:

He seems to have struck gold with his first movie.

14. ) transitive usually passive to make a coin or MEDAL by cutting it out of a piece of metal:

The first English gold coin was struck in 1255.

15. ) transitive to lower and remove a structure such as a tent or sail:

strike camp (=remove all the tents in it): The order was given to strike camp at dawn.

strike a set (=remove the background and furniture used in a play, movie, or television program): They were waiting for the director's order to strike the set.

be struck by/with something

if you are struck by/with something, it seems unusual, interesting, or impressive to you:

The first time I saw her I was struck by her beauty.

strike a balance (between something and something)

to accept neither of two extreme positions or things but find a solution that is reasonable and fair:

A balance must be struck between meeting housing needs and preserving the environment.

strike a blow for something

1. ) to do something to help or support an idea, movement, or group:

She has struck a blow for common sense and human decency.

2. ) strike a blow at/against something to do something to harm or oppose an idea, movement, or group:

His main desire was to strike a blow against the communist forces.

strike the/your eye

to be noticed:

The picture immediately strikes the eye as you enter the room.

strike fear/terror into someone/someone's heart

to produce feelings of fear in someone:

a subject guaranteed to strike fear in the hearts of parents

He was capable of striking terror into the enemy.

strike the first blow

to make the first successful attack

strike it rich/lucky INFORMAL

to suddenly become rich/lucky

strike a pose/an attitude

to put your body into a particular position in order to create a particular effect:

He threw out his arms and struck a final, triumphant pose.

strike while the iron is hot

to take advantage of an opportunity before the situation changes

within striking distance (of something)

1. ) close enough to be reached, attacked, or achieved

2. ) close enough to reach, attack, or achieve something:

Armored divisions will soon be within striking distance of the capital.

=> HOME 2

`strike at phrasal verb transitive strike at someone/something

1. ) to try to hit someone or something with your hand or a weapon:

He struck at me several times but never hurt me.

a ) strike at something to try to hit or kick something such as a ball with your hand, foot, or a piece of sports equipment:

He struck wildly at the ball and missed completely.

2. ) to make a sudden violent or illegal attack on someone or something:

The rebels struck at government camps that night.

strike at the heart/foundation(s)/root(s) of something: This scandal strikes at the heart of the company's role as a responsible employer.

,strike `back phrasal verb intransitive

to attack, harm, or criticize someone who has attacked, harmed, or criticized you: RETALIATE:

The most vulnerable are also those least able to strike back.

strike back at: The bombing was apparently carried out by the Mafia to strike back at the Pope.

strike back against: They threatened to strike back against the UN for the bombing raids.

a. to make a successful attack in a competition after being attacked yourself, especially by scoring a point or goal:

The Lakers struck back with a three-pointer as the clock ran out.

,strike `down phrasal verb transitive

1. ) usually passive to make someone die or become so sick that they can no longer live a normal life:

As a tiny baby she was struck down by polio.

2. ) if a judge or court strikes down a law, they officially end it

3. ) to hit someone with enough force to make them fall down

,strike `off phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive to go in a particular direction in a way that shows energy or determination:

strike off across: They struck off across the desert without supplies.

strike off through: Startled by the noise, he had struck off through the woods.

2. ) transitive usually passive to remove something from a list or record:

We can strike that off today's agenda it's been settled.

a ) BRITISH used about someone such as a doctor or lawyer who is no longer allowed to work in their profession

`strike ,on or `strike u,pon phrasal verb transitive

strike on/upon something to find or think of something suddenly, unexpectedly, or by accident:

I think I've struck on a solution to our problem.

,strike `out phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive a BATTER strikes out in baseball by missing the ball three times, ending their turn at trying to hit it

a ) transitive a PITCHER strikes a BATTER out in baseball by throwing three balls that the batter is unable to hit, ending the batter's turn

2. ) intransitive INFORMAL to be unsuccessful in trying to do something:

Looks like we've struck out again.

3. ) intransitive to try to hit or attack someone or something:

strike out at: Without warning, he struck out at Holmes with his right hand.

4. ) intransitive to criticize someone or something, especially in a speech, interview, or article:

strike out at: He struck out at supporters of the bill in his speech yesterday.

5. ) intransitive to walk or swim in a particular direction in a way that shows energy or determination:

strike out into: We decided to strike out on foot into the woods.

strike out for: Rostov surfaced, then struck out for the nearest shore.

6. ) intransitive to start doing something new or different, especially in order to become more independent:

strike out on your own: O'Connor quit his job and decided to strike out on his own.

strike out for: It was an opportunity to strike out for herself.

7. ) strike out or strike through transitive to remove words from a document, for example by drawing a line through them: CROSS OUT:

Strike out lines 5 to 18.

,strike `through phrasal verb transitive

same as STRIKE OUT 7

,strike `up phrasal verb

intransitive or transitive to start to play or sing a piece of music:

strike up the band (=begin playing music): The announcer called out, Strike up the band!

a. intransitive if a piece of music strikes up, someone starts playing it

strike up a friendship/conversation etc. (with someone)

to start something such as a relationship or conversation with someone in an informal way:

Anna had struck up a conversation with a girl at the pool.

The bartender seemed to have already struck up a friendship with Jane.

`strike u,pon phrasal verb transitive

same as STRIKE ON:

I recently struck upon an interesting idea.

strike

strike 2 [ straık ] noun count ***

1. ) a period of time during which people refuse to work, as a protest about pay or conditions at work:

strike by: A strike by public transportation workers was launched on August 12th.

strike over: a 15-day strike over pay and poor safety conditions

be (out) on strike: Workers have been out on strike since Friday.

call a strike (=ask people to start it): The two main unions had called the strike.

a teachers'/workers'/drivers' etc. strike: schools closed by a teachers' strike

a train/dock strike: A dock strike has crippled the port.

=> HUNGER STRIKE

2. ) a failure to hit the ball in baseball

a ) a situation in BOWLING in which you succeed in knocking down all the PINS (=bottle shaped objects) with one ball

b ) BRITISH a hit or kick of a ball, especially one with which you score a goal or point

3. ) a military attack, especially one in which airplanes drop bombs on an area:

strike against: the danger of an imminent military strike against the United States

strike on: Cluster bombs were used in the strike on the airfield.

launch a strike (on/against someone/something): Bush warned that America would launch strikes against them if the war spread.

=> FIRST STRIKE

4. ) a discovery of something such as gold or oil by digging or DRILLING

one/a strike/two strikes/three strikes against someone/something INFORMAL

one/two/three qualities, facts, or details that are considered a disadvantage