strident
1380
Some people would have been shocked and unable to work, but
he takes everything in his stride. -> see also STRIDES
**stri·dent** /'straɪdənt/ *adj* *derog* with a hard sharp usually loud
sound or voice, especially containing a high unpleasant
note: *a strident voice/speaker* | (*fig.*) *The unions are getting
more strident in their demands.* —**ly** *adv* —**dency** *n* [U]
**strides** /straɪdz/ *n* [P] *infml*, especially *AustrE* trousers
**strife** /straɪf/ *n* [U] *rather fml* trouble between people; CONFLICT:
*family strife* | *a time of political strife* | *bombing and looting
in the strife-torn city*
**strike¹** /straɪk/ *v* **struck** /strʌk/ **1** [T] *rather fml* to hit sharply
or forcefully: *She struck him with her hand.* | *The mountain-
eer was struck on the head by a falling stone.* | *The ship struck
a rock and started to sink.* | *The tower was struck by
lightning.* | *A tornado struck the farm.* | [+obj][(+obj)(d)] *He struck
his opponent a tremendous blow on the jaw.* | (*fig.*) *to strike a
blow for freedom* **2** [(OUT)] to make an attack, especially with
sudden force: *He leapt back as the animal struck.* | *He struck
out at his attackers.* | *Lightning struck in several places but no
one was hurt.* | (*fig.*) *We were sailing along without a care in the
world when suddenly disaster struck; we hit an iceberg.* | (*fig.*) *a
wage agreement which strikes at the heart of* (=severely
damages) *the government's economic policy* **3** [T+obj+adj; usually
pass.] to cause to suddenly or unexpectedly become: *They
were struck dumb with amazement.* **4** [T+obj+adv/prep] to cause
a sudden feeling of (fear, worry etc): *The prospect struck
terror into their hearts.* **5** [T] to light by hitting against a
hard surface: *She struck a match.* **6** **a)** [i;T] to make known
(the time), especially by the hitting of a bell: *The clock has
just struck.* | *The clock struck five (o'clock).* **b)** [I] (of time) to
be made known in such a way: *Five o'clock has just
struck.* **7** [(for)] to stop working because of disagreement:
*workers striking for better working conditions* | *the right to
strike* | *striking miners* **8** [T+obj+adv/prep] especially *fml* or *tech* to
remove (something written or printed), especially officially:
*His name was struck off/from the list of candidates.* -> see
also **strike off** (STRIKE¹), **STRIKE OUT** **9** [T] to find (a material,
place etc), especially suddenly: *They struck oil.* | *After tramp-
ing for miles through the forest, we finally struck the road.* |
*After months of successful work we struck some difficulties.* ->
see also **STRIKE on** **10** [T] to produce or reach (agreement,
equality etc): *It's hard to strike a balance between caution
and boldness.* | *I'll strike a bargain with you: you go and buy
the food and I'll cook it.* **11** [T][as)] to have a particular (strong)
effect on; IMPRESS: *How does the room strike you?* | *He was
struck by her air of confidence.* | *It struck me as rather odd
that he refused to give his name.* **12** [T not in progressive forms] to
come suddenly to the mind of; OCCUR TO: *It struck me that
you might like some coffee, so I've brought some up.* | *A terrible
thought struck me – had I locked the door?* **13** [T] to stand, sit
etc with one's body in (a particular position): *He struck the
customary pose of a well-known politician, and everyone
laughed.* | (*fig.*) *Both sides were more interested in striking
attitudes* (=drawing attention to their perhaps insincere
views) *than in having a meaningful discussion.* **14** [T] *tech* to
produce (a coin or similar object): *A commemorative medal
has been struck for the occasion.* **15** [T] *tech* to lower (sails or
a flag) **16** **strike a chord** to remind someone of something,
especially because of similarity **17** **strike a note of** to
express (a need for): *His new book strikes a warning note/a
note of warning against government overspending.* | *I should
like to strike a note of caution.* **18** **strike camp** to take down
tents when leaving a camping place **19** **strike it rich** *infml* to
become suddenly rich **20** **strike while the iron's hot** [usually
imperative] to make use of a favourable occasion as soon as it
comes, without losing valuable time **21** **within striking
distance (of)** very near (to) -> see also **STRICKEN**
**USAGE** **Strike** meaning 'to hit' is more formal than **hit** and
**hit** is more common in conversation: *Go on! **Hit** him.* |
*The police report stated that the man had been **struck** by
a car.*
**strike sbdy. down** *phr v* [T often pass.] to cause to
suddenly die or become seriously ill: *It's tragic that such a
talented young artist was struck down in his prime.* | *He
was struck down by multiple sclerosis.*
**strike sbdy./sthg. off** (sthg.) *phr v* [T often pass.] to remove
(someone or their name) from (an official list): *The doctor
was struck off (the medical register)* (=he was no longer
allowed to practise as a doctor) *for professional misconduct.*
**strike on/upon sthg.** *phr v* [T] to discover; HIT ON: *I've
struck on a plan.*
**strike out** *phr v* **1** [T[strike sthg. OUT)] also **strike through** —
*fml* to remove (unwanted writing) by drawing a line through
it; CROSS OUT: *Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms ... (Strike out whichever does
not apply.)* **2** [I+adv/prep] to go determinedly in the stated
direction, especially by swimming: *He struck out towards the
ship.* | *The hikers struck out across country.* **3** [I] to start an
independent life or a new activity: *She left the family busi-
ness and struck out on her own.* **4** [T[strike sbdy. OUT)] in
BASEBALL to put (a player) out as a result of throwing three
STRIKES **5** [I] to end one's turn at BAT by swinging at the ball
three times without a successful hit: *He struck out in the
second inning.* **6** [I] *AmE slang* to be unsuccessful at some-
thing, especially at winning sexual favour from someone
**strike up** (sthg.) *phr v* **1** [i;T] to begin playing or singing:
*The band struck up (a march) and the parade
began.* **2** [T(with)] to start to make (a friendship or conversa-
tion): *They struck up an acquaintance (with each other) on the
plane.*
**strike²** *n* **1** a time when no work is done because of
disagreement, e.g. over pay or working conditions: *The
whole workforce is/has gone (out) on strike.* | *an unofficial
strike* | *a strike ballot* | *The union has voted to take strike
action.* -> compare LOCKOUT; see also GENERAL STRIKE,
HUNGER STRIKE **2** an attack, especially by aircraft whose
bombs hit the place attacked: *retaliatory strikes on/against
enemy bases* -> see also FIRST STRIKE **3** success in finding,
especially a mineral in the earth: *an oil strike* | *a lucky
strike* **4** (in BASEBALL) a swing at the ball that does not result
in a successful hit, either from missing or from the ball going
outside the play area **5** (in BOWLING) the knocking down of
all the PINS (=bottle-shaped objects) on the first of two
allowed rolls of the ball **6** **three strikes and you're out** *AmE*
an expression meaning that someone who has already made
two mistakes or done two things wrong will not get another
chance to fail. It is based on the rules of BASEBALL in which
the BATTER is only allowed three chances to hit the ball. In
the mid-1990s, this expression was used about new laws in
some US states, by which someone who has already been
guilty of two serious crimes will be sent to prison for life if
they COMMIT another crime, even if the third crime is not
serious
**strike-bound** /'straɪkbaʊnd/ *adj* unable to move, act, or
travel because of a STRIKE: *Britain's strikebound coal industry*
**strike-break·er** /'straɪkˌbreɪkə/ *n* a person who takes the
job of someone else who is on STRIKE -> compare BLACKLEG,
SCAB —**break·ing** *n* [U]
**strike-out** /'straɪkaʊt/ *n* (in BASEBALL) an act of putting a
player out as a result of throwing three STRIKES: *In tonight's
game Hershiser threw twelve strikeouts.*
**'strike pay** *n* [U] money paid to workers on STRIKE from their
trade union's **strike fund(s)**
**strik·er** /'straɪkə/ *n* **1** a person on STRIKE **2** an attacking
player in a football team
**strik·ing** /'straɪkɪŋ/ *adj* which draws the attention, especially
because noticeable or unusual: *a very striking woman* (=espe-
cially beautiful in an unusual way) | *a striking idea* | *There
were some striking similarities between the two books.* —**ly**
*adv*: *The two books were strikingly similar.*
**'striking ,distance** *n* **within striking distance (of)** very
close (to): *The two sides are within striking distance of an
agreement.*
**strim** /strɪm/ *v* to cut with a Strimmer®
**Strim·mer** /'strɪmə/ *BrE* trademark a type of machine for
cutting WEEDS (=unwanted garden plants) and grass in places
that a LAWNMOWER cannot reach. You hold the machine in
your hand and move it just above the ground, and a strong
spinning plastic string cuts the grass. In the US there is a
similar machine called a WEED WHACKER.
**string¹** /strɪŋ/ *n* **1** [C;U] (a) narrow cord made of threads
twisted together and used to tie, fasten etc: *Puppets are
worked by strings.* | *She tied the parcel up with string.* | *a piece
of string* | *a ball of string* -> compare ROPE **2** [C] a thin
metal wire or piece of CATGUT usually one of several