home thrust
- noun
- The lawyer's closing argument contained a home thrust that left a lasting impression on the jury.
Examples
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Despite several distractions, the senator returned to his home thrust about tax reform.
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The speaker's home thrust was compelling and well-articulated.
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After circling around the topic for minutes, she finally delivered the home thrust of her presentation.
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Can you identify the home thrust of her argument?
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After circling around the topic for a while, she finally delivered the home thrust of her presentation, making her argument clear and impactful.
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Despite several distractions during the debate, the senator expertly returned to his home thrust about tax reform, emphasizing its importance.
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The lawyer's closing argument was powerful, and the home thrust left a lasting impression on the jury, shaping their decision.
Synonyms
A main idea in a talk or report
The main person, thing, or idea that gets most attention
The most important point someone makes in a discussion or essay
The main point someone makes in a discussion
The most important point people discuss in a disagreement
The main point of a discussion or argument
Antonyms
How Forceful
Surface Forms
Morphology
The components 'thrust' (a forceful push or figurative main point) and 'home' (target or central point) combine to suggest a focused, forceful point, so the overall sense is partially inferable from the parts. However, the usage is metaphorical and somewhat idiomatic (similar to 'drive the point home'), and a B1 learner may not predict the exact sense or nuance without prior exposure. Therefore it is not fully transparent but shows a clear compositional basis.
Etymology
The noun home thrust may come from the image of a strong thrust, a quick hard push or jab, driven straight to home (the exact target) to finish a fight. So the phrase now means the 'main point' or the decisive idea that finishes an argument.