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Glite Dictionary
to pitch into

to pitch into

7.8
To attack someone with your body or with strong words
  • phrasal verb
  • /pɪtʃ ˈɪntu/
  • NSFW
translation icon : atacar
  • Don't pitch into him without knowing the facts!

Examples

  • Why did you pitch into that poor guy?

  • She pitched into him for his careless behavior during the meeting.

  • As soon as the fight broke out, several players pitched into each other.

  • The protesters pitched into the police with sticks and stones.

  • The angry crowd began to pitch into the police officers who were trying to control the situation.

  • During the argument, she started to pitch into her opponent with harsh words and accusations.

  • After being provoked, he couldn't help but pitch into the discussion with a fierce criticism of the plan.

Synonyms

to strike
vsto pitch into
553 2.4

To hit someone or something with force

is wider, adding verbal assault as well as physical violence
to beat the shit out of
vsto pitch into
  • Offensive
53 9.9

To hurt or defeat someone very badly, often by hitting them

is the general violent attack that covers milder physical or verbal force
to assail
vsto pitch into
  • Formal
16 8.0

To attack violently, upset someone deeply or criticize them strongly

focuses on violent action either physical or verbal
to bash in
vsto pitch into
  • NSFW
13 7.5

Hit something hard so it breaks or opens

is broader, also covering verbal attacks and less severe violence
to tear into
vsto pitch into
  • Informal
4 7.4

To attack or criticize someone strongly

is the general violent attack that may be physical or verbal
to wallop
vsto pitch into
  • Informal
2 7.3

To hit something or someone very hard

also includes verbal attacks, not only hard physical hits
to lay into
vsto pitch into
  • NSFW
1 7.5

Hit someone or something hard and violently

also applies to strong words, not only physical hitting
to lace into
vsto pitch into
  • NSFW
8.5

Criticize or attack someone strongly

is broader, covering violent action as well as harsh words
to lam into
vsto pitch into
  • Informal
9.9

To hit someone or something violently, often by running into them

can also mean strong verbal attack not just hitting

Antonyms

to defend
∞ 1.3

To protect people and things from attack or harm

retreat
93 4.4

A move back from a place to escape danger

How Aggressive

to assault
126 4.7
to pitch into
  • NSFW
7.8
to attack
597 3.4
to confront
310 4.1
to criticize
701 3.3

Surface Forms

pitch into infinitive
pitching into present participle
pitches into third person singular
pitched into past
pitched into past participle

Morphology

pitch + into

There is a loose metaphorical link: 'pitch' (to throw) + 'into' (toward/inside) can suggest launching oneself at someone, which can map onto attacking, but the extension to 'attack someone verbally or physically' is not directly deducible from the literal meanings. This sense is a partly metaphorical phrasal use that some learners might guess, but it usually requires prior exposure to be reliably understood.

Etymology

Pitch into comes from a simple image: to pitch, to throw, something into a person or group, as if people rush forward to hit them. That's why it now means 'to attack' someone physically or to 'criticize' them strongly.