strike

hit/strike home

1. if something that someone says hits home, it has a strong effect on you because it forces you to understand something unpleasant. I could see that the criticism was beginning to hit home.

2. if an action or a situation hits home, it has a strong negative effect. Consumer spending has decreased as tax rises have begun to hit home.

See also: hit, home

hit/strike pay dirt (American & Australian)

to achieve or discover something important or valuable. She finally hit pay dirt with her third novel which quickly became a best seller.

See also: dirt, hit, pay

hit/strike the right note

if something you say or do hits the right note, it is suitable and has a good effect. He saw his remarks had struck the right note - his friend was smiling now. The General's calm manner hit the right note of moderation, to reassure his audience. (sometimes + of)

See also: hit, note, right

Lightning does not strike twice.

something that you say which means that a bad thing will not happen to the same person twice. I know the crash has scared you, but lightning doesn't strike twice.

See also: does, lightning, twice

strike a blow against/at something/someone

strike a blow for something/someone - to do something to support an idea or to change a situation to something which you believe is good. The court's decision strikes a blow against minority rights.

See also: against, blow

strike a blow for something/someone

to do something to support an idea or to change a situation to something which you believe is good. He claims to be striking a blow for gender equality by employing an equal number of men and women. This latest agreement will strike a blow for free trade within the EU.

See also: blow

strike a chord

if something you hear or see strikes a chord, it seems familiar to you. Carson? That name strikes a chord.

See also: chord

strike at the heart of something

to damage something severely by attacking the most important part of it. The recent recession has struck at the heart of industrial development.

See also: heart

strike gold (informal)

1. to become rich. Some investors have struck gold investing in airlines.

2. to win a gold medal (= a round piece of metal given as a prize) in a sports competition. Not since the 1964 Olympics, when Ann Packer and Mary Rand struck gold have women's expectations been so high.

See also: gold

strike it lucky (British, American & Australian, British & Australian)

to suddenly have some good luck. They struck it lucky with their second album which became an immediate best-seller.

See also: lucky

strike it rich

to suddenly become rich. He struck it rich in the oil business.

See also: rich

strike while the iron is hot

to do something immediately while you have a good chance of achieving success. You may not get a better offer - I'd strike while the iron's hot, if I were you.

See also: hot, iron

strike/touch a chord

if something strikes a chord with someone, they are interested in it and like it because it is connected with their own lives or opinions. Clearly the book has struck a chord, as we can see from the hundreds of letters we have received from readers. Her ideas on social reform will strike a chord with poor people everywhere. (often + with)

See also: chord, touch

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strike a blow against someone/something

to help defeat or destroy someone or something. Supporters of the law said that it would strike a blow against gun violence.

See also: against, blow

strike a blow for someone/something

to help or support someone or something. The court's decision strikes a blow for every little guy that's ever been kicked around by a big company. Don't you wish you could think of a good way to strike a blow for change?

See also: blow

strike a chord

to cause you to realize that something is connected to you in some way. The characters in the play strike a chord because their speech and their reactions are like ours.

See also: chord

strike down something

to decide that a law, rule, or order is not legal. The court struck down the law, saying that it was unconstitutional.

See also: down

strike someone's fancy

to seem interesting or pleasing to someone. She has enough money to buy whatever strikes her fancy.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form tickle someone's fancy: Look through the gift catalog and see if anything tickles your fancy.

See also: fancy

strike gold

1. to become rich, happy, or successful. The actor has struck gold with his latest movie.

2. to win a sports competition. She expects to strike gold in the world championship.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of strike gold (= to find gold in the ground)

See also: gold

strike home

to be understood completely and have a strong effect. Her tearful expression made it clear that his nasty remarks had struck home.

come home (to someone)

See also: home

strike it rich

to become suddenly and unexpectedly rich or successful. Many immigrants dream of striking it rich in America.

Etymology: based on literal meaning of strike it rich (= to find gold in the ground)

See also: rich

strike out

1. to begin moving or acting with energy or determination. At dawn they struck out on foot toward the town.

2. to fail. In the past our ads have been successful, but we struck out this time.

Etymology: from an expression used in baseball, referring to a play in which the hitter fails to hit the ball

strike out on your own

to begin a new and independent activity. Instead of joining the family business, I decided to strike out on my own.

strike the right note

to say or do something that is suited to a particular occasion. Marjorie planned the party carefully because she wanted to strike the right note with her guests.

See also: note, right

strike up something

to begin something. She struck up a relationship with an artist soon after she arrived in Paris. We walk into the room and a brass band strikes up a rendition of "Parker's Mood." I was hoping he'd strike up a conversation.

strike while the iron is hot

take action immediately in order to have a better chance of success. When you have a customer on the phone, strike while the iron is hot by offering special discounts on certain items.

See also: hot, iron