Back to Report
strike · verb /straɪk/Full view
Nouns: strike, striker
Adjectives: striking
Verbs: strike
strike (HIT)
B1 T to hit someone or something
Dictionary examples:

Two climbers were struck by falling rocks.

His car went out of control and struck a tree.

I've never heard of anyone being struck by lightning.

Learner example:

Only seconds later, the tree was struck by lightning. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Swiss German)

strike (THINK)
B2 T If a thought or idea strikes you, you suddenly think of it.
Dictionary example:

It struck me that I had forgotten to order the champagne.

Learner example:

Sitting there, waiting, I began to think and an idea struck m[e]. (First Certificate in English; B2; Swedish)

what struck me/the first thing that struck me...
B2 used when talking about a very obvious quality that you noticed when you first saw or met someone or something
Dictionary examples:

What struck me about Cole was how grown-up he seemed for a seven-year-old.

The first thing that struck me about Emma was her extraordinary beauty.

Learner example:

What strikes me most is the way she is dealing with other people. (First Certificate in English; B2; Greek)

strike (STOP WORK)
B2 I to stop working for a period of time because you want more money, better working conditions, etc.
Dictionary example:

Train drivers are threatening to strike over pay.

Learner example:

The town['s] transport workers have started to strike." (First Certificate in English; B2; Polish)

strike a balance
C1 to give two things the same amount of attention
Dictionary example:

It's important to strike a balance between spending and saving.

Learner example:

Everything has good and bad sides, the most important thing is to strike a balance. (International English Language Testing System; C1; Chinese)

strike sb as sth
C2 If someone or something strikes you as having a particular quality, they seem to have that quality.
Dictionary examples:

He didn't strike me as a passionate man.

They strike me as creative and original people.

His comments struck me as aggressive.

Learner example:

Mrs Kingshaw strikes me as a rather frivolous woman. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Italian)

strike gold, oil, etc.
C2 to find a supply of gold, oil, etc. in the ground
Dictionary example:

They hope to strike oil in the desert.

Learner example:

Their very own father had struck oil, made tons of money with it and did not even want to give some to his children. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Dutch)

strike a match
C2 to light a match in order to produce fire
Dictionary example:

I struck a match and lit the candle.

Learner example:

Their instant reaction was to park the car, put their raincoats on, get out and strike a few useless matches: they were their last light resour[c]e apart from the lightning in the sky and the weak [head]lights. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Portuguese)

strike (EFFECT)
C2 T If something bad strikes something or someone, it affects them strongly and quickly.
Dictionary example:

The hurricane struck the coast at about eight in the morning.

Learner example:

And there had been the blight w[hic]h struck half of the plantation. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; French)

strike · noun C or U /straɪk/
Nouns: strike, striker
Adjectives: striking
Verbs: strike
strike
B1 a period of time when people are not working because they want more money, better working conditions, etc.
Dictionary examples:

The city's bus drivers have been on strike for three weeks.

a teachers' strike

Learner example:

Indeed, the bus company has plan[n]ed a strike. (Preliminary English Test; B1; French)

Cambridge logo