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Glite Dictionary
to strike someone when they are down

to strike someone when they are down

8.4
To criticize or take advantage of someone when they are weak
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : atacar a alguien cuando está en el suelo
  • The media loves to strike someone when they are down, piling on criticism after a public mistake.

Examples

  • Even his rival refused to strike someone when they are down, choosing instead to offer support.

  • She scolded him for trying to strike someone when they are down during the meeting.

  • It's cruel to strike someone when they are down by mocking their failures.

  • Many believe it is unethical to strike someone when they are down in a debate.

  • He felt it was wrong to strike someone when they are down after his opponent lost the match.

Synonyms

to assail
vsto strike someone when they are down
  • Formal
16 8.0

To attack violently, upset someone deeply or criticize them strongly

is focused on attacking regardless of whether the target is vulnerable
to rip someone's head off
vsto strike someone when they are down
  • Offensive
1 8.5

Shout at someone in a very angry way and threaten them

describes extreme anger not specifically taking advantage of vulnerability
to kick someone when they are down
vsto strike someone when they are down
  • Informal
1 6.9

To treat someone badly when they already have problems

is the same idea but uses a different verb phrase
to hit out at
vsto strike someone when they are down
  • UK
1 6.7

To criticize someone or something strongly in public

is used to attack or criticize someone already weak or vulnerable
to put the boot in
vsto strike someone when they are down
  • UK
9.1

To attack or criticize someone who is already in trouble

is the same meaning but phrased differently
to hit him when he's down
vsto strike someone when they are down
  • Informal
8.2

Say mean things to someone when they are already in trouble

is identical but uses a personal pronoun and contraction
to lace into
vsto strike someone when they are down
  • NSFW
8.5

Criticize or attack someone strongly

is used when someone is already weak or vulnerable rather than any target
to pitch into
vsto strike someone when they are down
  • NSFW
7.8

To attack someone with your body or with strong words

is used when the attack happens while the person is already weakened or vulnerable
to snap someone's head off
vsto strike someone when they are down
  • Offensive
8.0

To speak to someone in a sudden angry way without good reason

implies a sudden angry response rather than attacking when someone is vulnerable

Antonyms

to help someone out
  • Informal
182 1.3

Give someone support with a task or problem when they need it

How Cruel

to strike someone when they are down
  • Informal
8.4
to exploit
214 5.6
attack
548 3.2
insult
  • Offensive
313 1.3
to criticize
701 3.3

Surface Forms

strike someone when they are down infinitive
striking someone when they are down present participle
strikes someone when they are down third person singular
struck someone when they were down past
struck someone when they were down past participle

Morphology

strike + someone + when + they + be + down

The meaning is directly derivable from the parts: 'strike' (attack) + 'when they are down' (when someone is in a weak or low state) yields 'attack or take advantage of a vulnerable person.' The metaphorical sense of 'down' = vulnerable is common and follows a straightforward compositional pattern that a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will readily infer.

Etymology

Strike someone when they are down creates a clear picture: someone is already on the ground and another person hits them—strike—while they are helpless—down. So it means 'to attack, criticize, or take advantage of someone when they are weak'.