1strike 
/ˈstraɪk/ verb
strikes; struck /ˈstraɪk/ verb /ˈstrʌk/; struck also strick·en /ˈstrɪkən/; strik·ing /ˈstraɪkɪŋ/ 1 [+ obj] a : to hit (someone or something) in a forceful way
▪ The ship struck an iceberg. ▪ The car struck the tree. ▪ The bullet struck him in the leg. ▪ The cyclist was struck by a car. ▪ The tree was struck by lightning. ▪ He fell and his head struck the pavement. ▪ I could hear the rain striking the rooftop.
b : to cause (something) to hit something in a forceful way
▪ I struck [=banged, bumped] my knee against the leg of the table. ▪ She struck the cymbals together.
c : to hit (someone or something) with your hand, a weapon, etc.
▪ The killer struck him with a blunt object. ▪ She accidentally struck another player in the face. 2 [no obj] : to attack someone or something suddenly
▪ The snake was about to strike. ▪ Police say that the killer may strike again. — often + at ▪ The snake struck at the mouse. ▪ He struck at her with a knife. — often used figuratively ▪ He hurt her feelings by striking at [=attacking, criticizing] her personal beliefs. ▪ The proposed law strikes at the foundations of our democracy. 3 not used in progressive tenses : to affect (someone or something) suddenly in a bad way : to cause damage, harm, illness, etc., to (someone or something) [+ obj] ▪ The flu strikes millions of people each year. [=millions of people get sick with the flu each year] ▪ A hurricane struck the island. ▪ The city has been struck by a powerful earthquake. — often used as (be) stricken ▪ He was stricken with a high fever. [no obj] ▪ The hurricane is expected to strike tomorrow. ▪ When disaster strikes, will you be prepared? — often used figuratively ▪ The home team struck [=scored] first on the opening drive. 4 not used in progressive tenses [+ obj] : to cause (someone) to be in a certain condition suddenly — usually used as (be) struck ▪ They were struck speechless with surprise. ▪ He was struck deaf/blind [=he became deaf/blind] at an early age. ▪ I was struck dumb [=dumbstruck] by the news. 5 [+ obj] a : to cause someone to feel (a strong emotion) suddenly — often + in or into ▪ Their war cries struck terror in (the hearts of) their enemies. ▪ Her words struck fear into the hearts of her listeners.
b : to affect (someone) with a strong emotion
▪ He was struck with horror at the sight. = The sight struck him with horror. 6 [+ obj] : to cause (something) to happen or exist : to do or achieve (something)
▪ He needs to strike a better balance between his work life and his family life. [=he needs to spend less time at work and more time with his family] ▪ They struck a blow for freedom and against tyranny. [=they did something that helped freedom and opposed tyranny] ▪ Fate has struck a heavy blow against us. = Fate has struck us a heavy blow. 7 not used in progressive tenses [+ obj] : to be thought of by (someone) suddenly : to occur to (someone)
▪ It suddenly struck me [=I realized suddenly] that I would never see her again. ▪ The answer just struck me. ▪ It strikes me [=I realize] that there is a larger issue at stake. 8 not used in progressive tenses [+ obj] : to cause (someone) to think about someone or something in a particular way
▪ What really struck me was their enthusiasm. [=I especially noticed their enthusiasm] ▪ It strikes me [=it surprises me] that so few of them were willing to help. — often + as ▪ Her comment struck me as odd. [=her comment seemed odd to me] ▪ She strikes us as a very qualified candidate. [=we think she is a very qualified candidate] 9 [no obj] of a group of workers : to stop work in order to force an employer to agree to demands : to refuse to work until your employer does what you want
▪ The teachers are threatening to strike. [=go on strike] ▪ striking workers — often + for ▪ The workers are striking for an increase in pay. 10 of a clock : to make the time known by making a sound [no obj] ▪ The clock struck as they entered the room. [+ obj] ▪ The clock struck one. 11 [+ obj] : to cause (a match) to start burning by rubbing it against a surface
▪ She struck a match and lit the candle. 12 [+ obj] : to make (an agreement)
▪ The two parties have finally struck a bargain/deal. 13 [+ obj] : to remove (something) from (something)
▪ She struck the song from the album at the last minute. ▪ He struck [=deleted] the sentence from the paragraph. ▪ The clause has been stricken from the contract. 14 not used in progressive tenses [+ obj] : to find or discover (something) especially by digging
▪ They are hoping to strike oil/gold. — see also strike gold (below) 15 [+ obj] : to place yourself in (a particular position, posture, etc.)
▪ She struck [=assumed, took on] a dramatic pose. ▪ He struck a defensive attitude. 16 [+ obj] : to play (a note, chord, etc.) on a musical instrument by using your fingers on keys or strings
▪ Fans cheered when he struck the song's opening chords. — often used figuratively ▪ She struck the right note/tone with her speech. [=she said things in a way that appealed to her audience] 17 always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] : to begin to walk or go in a particular direction — usually + off or out ▪ He struck off through the woods. ▪ The men struck out for/toward their campsite when they saw the storm clouds moving in. — see also strike out 4 (below) 18 [+ obj] : to make (a coin, medal, etc.) by pressing an image into a piece of metal
▪ The coins were struck in 1789.
▪ The ship struck an iceberg. ▪ The car struck the tree. ▪ The bullet struck him in the leg. ▪ The cyclist was struck by a car. ▪ The tree was struck by lightning. ▪ He fell and his head struck the pavement. ▪ I could hear the rain striking the rooftop.
b : to cause (something) to hit something in a forceful way
▪ I struck [=banged, bumped] my knee against the leg of the table. ▪ She struck the cymbals together.
c : to hit (someone or something) with your hand, a weapon, etc.
▪ The killer struck him with a blunt object. ▪ She accidentally struck another player in the face.
▪ The snake was about to strike. ▪ Police say that the killer may strike again. — often + at ▪ The snake struck at the mouse. ▪ He struck at her with a knife. — often used figuratively ▪ He hurt her feelings by striking at [=attacking, criticizing] her personal beliefs. ▪ The proposed law strikes at the foundations of our democracy.
b : to affect (someone) with a strong emotion
▪ He was struck with horror at the sight. = The sight struck him with horror.
▪ He needs to strike a better balance between his work life and his family life. [=he needs to spend less time at work and more time with his family] ▪ They struck a blow for freedom and against tyranny. [=they did something that helped freedom and opposed tyranny] ▪ Fate has struck a heavy blow against us. = Fate has struck us a heavy blow.
▪ It suddenly struck me [=I realized suddenly] that I would never see her again. ▪ The answer just struck me. ▪ It strikes me [=I realize] that there is a larger issue at stake.
▪ What really struck me was their enthusiasm. [=I especially noticed their enthusiasm] ▪ It strikes me [=it surprises me] that so few of them were willing to help. — often + as ▪ Her comment struck me as odd. [=her comment seemed odd to me] ▪ She strikes us as a very qualified candidate. [=we think she is a very qualified candidate]
▪ The teachers are threatening to strike. [=go on strike] ▪ striking workers — often + for ▪ The workers are striking for an increase in pay.
▪ She struck a match and lit the candle.
▪ The two parties have finally struck a bargain/deal.
▪ She struck the song from the album at the last minute. ▪ He struck [=deleted] the sentence from the paragraph. ▪ The clause has been stricken from the contract.
▪ They are hoping to strike oil/gold. — see also strike gold (below)
▪ She struck [=assumed, took on] a dramatic pose. ▪ He struck a defensive attitude.
▪ Fans cheered when he struck the song's opening chords. — often used figuratively ▪ She struck the right note/tone with her speech. [=she said things in a way that appealed to her audience]
▪ The coins were struck in 1789.
be struck by
informal : to be very impressed by or pleased with (something or someone)
▪ Visitors are always struck by the beauty of the landscape.
▪ Visitors are always struck by the beauty of the landscape.
lightning never strikes (the same place) twice — see 1lightning
strike a chord — see 2chord
strike a nerve — see nerve
strike back [phrasal verb]
: to try to hurt someone who has hurt you or treated you badly
▪ When he called her lazy, she immediately struck back by calling him fat. — often + at ▪ He angrily struck back at his critics.
▪ When he called her lazy, she immediately struck back by calling him fat. — often + at ▪ He angrily struck back at his critics.
strike down [phrasal verb] 1 strike (someone) down a : to make (someone) unable to work, act, or function in the usual way — usually used as (be) struck down ▪ She was struck down by an injury at the height of her athletic career.
b : to cause (someone) to die suddenly — usually used as (be) struck down ▪ He was struck down by a heart attack at age 55. 2 strike (something) down or strike down (something) chiefly US, law : to say officially that (something) is no longer legally valid
▪ The board struck down the appointment. ▪ The Supreme Court struck down the law.
b : to cause (someone) to die suddenly — usually used as (be) struck down ▪ He was struck down by a heart attack at age 55.
▪ The board struck down the appointment. ▪ The Supreme Court struck down the law.
strike gold
: to have great success with something
▪ The studio struck gold with their latest film. — see also 1strike 14 (above)
▪ The studio struck gold with their latest film. — see also 1strike 14 (above)
strike home — see 2home
strike it rich
informal : to become rich suddenly
▪ Her family struck it rich when they won the lottery.
▪ Her family struck it rich when they won the lottery.
strike off [phrasal verb] 1 strike off (something) or strike (something) off : to draw a line through (a name or item on a list)
▪ The teacher struck off [=crossed out] the names as he called them out. 2 strike off (something) or strike (something) off : to remove (something) by hitting it with a tool in a forceful way
▪ He struck off the top of the coconut with a machete. 3 strike off (someone) or strike (someone) off Brit : to remove the name of (someone, such as a doctor or lawyer) from an official register — usually used as (be) struck off ▪ The doctor was struck off for unethical practices. [=the doctor is no longer allowed to practice] — see also 1strike 17 (above)
▪ The teacher struck off [=crossed out] the names as he called them out.
▪ He struck off the top of the coconut with a machete.
strike on/upon [phrasal verb] 1 strike on/upon (something) not used in progressive tenses : to find or discover (something) especially suddenly
▪ He struck on an idea for his novel. ▪ They struck upon a salt mine. 2 be struck on Brit, informal : to like or be impressed by (someone or something) very much
▪ He was quite struck on her. ▪ She seems to be very struck on herself. [=stuck on herself]
▪ He struck on an idea for his novel. ▪ They struck upon a salt mine.
▪ He was quite struck on her. ▪ She seems to be very struck on herself. [=stuck on herself]
strike out [phrasal verb] 1 baseball a strike (someone) out or strike out (someone) of a pitcher : to cause (a batter) to be out by pitching three strikes
▪ The pitcher struck him out with a curve. ▪ The pitcher struck out the first two batters.
b of a batter : to make an out by getting three strikes
▪ The first two batters struck out. — see also strikeout 2 strike (something) out or strike out (something) : to remove (something) from a document : delete
▪ The editor struck out the last paragraph. 3 US, informal : to be unsuccessful : fail
▪ “Did you get her phone number?” “No, I struck out.” 4 : to begin a course of action
▪ She struck out on her own after graduation. — see also 1strike 17 (above) 5 : to try to hit someone or something suddenly
▪ He struck out wildly with his arms. — often + at ▪ He struck out wildly at the police officers. 6 : to make a sudden and angry attack against someone — often + at ▪ Both candidates struck out at their critics.
▪ The pitcher struck him out with a curve. ▪ The pitcher struck out the first two batters.
b of a batter : to make an out by getting three strikes
▪ The first two batters struck out. — see also strikeout
▪ The editor struck out the last paragraph.
▪ “Did you get her phone number?” “No, I struck out.”
▪ She struck out on her own after graduation. — see also 1strike 17 (above)
▪ He struck out wildly with his arms. — often + at ▪ He struck out wildly at the police officers.
strike pay dirt — see pay dirt
strike (someone) dead
: to kill (someone) in a quick and unexpected way
▪ A bolt of lightning struck him dead.
▪ A bolt of lightning struck him dead.
strike up [phrasal verb] 1 strike up (something) a : to begin to play (a piece of music)
▪ The orchestra struck up a waltz.
b : to cause (an orchestra, a band, etc.) to begin playing
▪ The conductor struck up the band. 2 strike up (something) also strike (something) up : to begin (something)
▪ I struck up a conversation with him at the party. ▪ The two boys struck up a friendship.
▪ The orchestra struck up a waltz.
b : to cause (an orchestra, a band, etc.) to begin playing
▪ The conductor struck up the band.
▪ I struck up a conversation with him at the party. ▪ The two boys struck up a friendship.
strike while the iron is hot
: to do something immediately while you still have a good chance to do it
▪ We may not have a chance like this again. We need to strike while the iron is hot.
▪ We may not have a chance like this again. We need to strike while the iron is hot.
— see also striking distance
