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Glite Dictionary
in for the kill

in for the kill

4 8.1
To act quickly and strongly to win when you see a chance
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : listo para la acción
  • Ryback looks as if he is going in for the kill.
  • move in for the kill
  • go in for the kill
  • come in for the kill

And you can literally paint every single lash individually if you want, or just go in for the kill.

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Examples

  • Murphy moves in for the kill, but Delmar rolls away.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Archer moves in for the kill, savoring it.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • We should concentrate on all his moves and then when we can go in for the kill.

    Blast (1997)

  • He's coming in for the kill.

    Lost in America (1985)

  • The left smelled blood in the water and came in for the kill.

    Blog text (24)

  • Her mother looked like she was relenting, just a little, and Buffy moved in for the kill.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Castor moves in for the kill when he hears a final SNAP-SNAP.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • He moves in for the kill, walking past a crowd of kids at the magazine rack, past the Hostess aisle, past the dairy cooler, and into the darkened corner.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • "That's because he's going in for the kill," the Villella boys cried in unison, emboldened by the rum punch.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • The candidate realized it was time to go in for the kill and confidently presented his final proposal.

Synonyms

to play hardball
vsin for the kill
  • Informal
26 7.0

Act aggressively to get what you want when you compete with others

is about taking decisive action at an opportunity rather than using ruthless tactics
finger on the trigger
vsin for the kill
  • Informal
4 6.3

Being ready to act quickly when a chance or danger appears

is focused on taking decisive action to secure success when chance appears
to strike while the iron is hot
vsin for the kill
  • Informal
3 4.7

Do something quickly to use a good chance before it ends

puts emphasis on decisive action to secure success rather than only timing
do-or-die
vsin for the kill
  • Informal
2 7.2

Willing to do anything to succeed when the situation is urgent

is about acting decisively at a chance rather than risking everything
to come in for the kill
vsin for the kill
  • Informal
7.7

To make a final move to win at an important moment

is about being ready to act when an opportunity appears
on the ready
vsin for the kill
5.3

Prepared and alert to act immediately

is ready to act decisively to secure success when a chance appears
to take time by the forelock
vsin for the kill
  • Archaic
9.9

Act quickly to grab an opportunity before it is lost

is about being ready to take decisive action when a chance appears
to take the game to them
vsin for the kill
  • Informal
8.1

Play aggressively to attack the other team rather than defend

focuses on seizing a specific chance quickly rather than sustained aggressive strategy

Antonyms

to back off
  • Informal
356 2.8

Move away from someone, or stop taking part in something

to miss an opportunity
14 2.8

Fail to use a chance to do something you want

How Ready

in for the kill
  • Informal
4 8.1
lying in wait
  • NSFW
2 8.0

Surface Forms

in for the kill main

Morphology

in + for + the + kill

The component 'in for' (expecting or ready for something) is understandable, and 'kill' carries a strong metaphorical sense of finishing or defeating; together they signal readiness to deliver a decisive blow. However, the competitive/figurative sense 'ready to take decisive action to secure success' is an idiomatic extension of 'kill' that is not fully predictable from the literal words for a B1 learner without exposure, so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

In for the kill comes from hunting: when a hunter or a predator moves in to make the final kill, closing the distance to finish the prey. So, today it means being ready to take a final, decisive action to 'win' or succeed.