to strike back
34
4.9
- phrasal verb
- /straɪk bæk/
:
contraatacar
- That's exactly why we have to strike back now.
- begin to strike back
And so Israel is expected to strike back against Iran.
- And so Israel is expected to strike back against Iran.
- And so this fueled his anger and his desire to try to strike back in some way.
- You'd be immune to all the things because you are still alive on the streets and you'd want to probably strike back against the rich.
- He has every reason to be angry, to strike back, to kill, and yet his only thought is of sacrifice and bringing people together.
- So one angry Christian took to the Internet to venti his rage and offer a way to strike back.
Examples
-
After the surprise attack, the team quickly decided to strike back with a counteroffensive strategy.
-
And so Israel is expected to strike back against Iran.
-
This time your victim may strike back.
-
Somebody should stand up and strike back.
-
An enemy we have kept at bay for centuries has finally decided to strike back.
-
And they will not hesitate to strike back.
-
Inside each of us is a potential vigilante who wants to strike back at evil.
Academic text (2014) -
Some of these people, and others, find ways to strike back against their oppressors.
Blog text (10) -
What motivated Israel's government to strike back when it did and with such force?
Academic text (2006) -
As the German invasion reached Louvain, outraged civilians began to strike back at the occupying troops.
Academic text (2003)
Synonyms
188
3.3
Resist an attack or criticism by responding
105
7.3
To hurt someone because they hurt you
95
4.9
Punish someone who hurt you or someone you care about
77
5.6
To do something to hurt someone because they hurt you
67
4.1
To reply quickly and strongly to a remark
46
5.4
To do something to hurt someone because they hurt you
36
8.6
To take revenge on someone who harmed you
24
4.2
Do something to hurt someone because they hurt you
19
6.4
To reply quickly and sharply in a clever or angry way
18
4.8
To answer quickly in a sharp, angry way
12
4.9
To attack back after an enemy attacks to stop their advance
9
3.2
Do something to someone to hurt them for what they did
9
4.2
To harm someone because they hurt you or someone you care about
5
6.3
Take someone to court after they take you to court
1
7.5
To attack back after someone attacks you
1
9.0
To reply quickly and sharply in speech or as a counterattack
1
5.1
Take revenge on someone for a wrong
To make a quick attack or sharp reply in return to another action
Antonyms
How Forceful
95
4.9
12
4.9
34
4.9
105
7.3
71
5.6
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to retaliate' is directly derivable from combining 'strike' (to attack) with 'back' (in return/again); together they transparently encode a counterattack or retaliation. This verb+particle composition is a common, predictable pattern in English (and parallels exist in many languages), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would likely infer the meaning.
Etymology
The phrase strike back comes from a simple fight image: to strike means to hit and back shows a hit in return, like when someone hits you and you hit them back. That's why it now means 'to fight back' or 'to respond to an attack'.