strike out
[verb]
Synonyms: head, bear, light out, make, set out, take off

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

strike out phrasal verb (see also strike)

1. to attack or criticize someone suddenly or violently
strike out at
Unhappy young people will often strike out at the people closest to them.

2. strike something ↔ out to draw a line through something written on a piece of paper

3. [always + adverb/preposition] to start walking or swimming in a particular direction, especially in a determined way:
She struck out for the side of the pool.

4. strike out on your own to start doing something or living independently

5. to not hit the ball in baseball three times, so that you are not allowed to continue trying, or to make someone do this
strike somebody ↔ out
He struck out the first batter he faced. ⇒ strikeout

6. American English informal to not be successful at something:
‘Did she say she’d go out with you?’ ‘No, I struck out.’

7. strike something ↔ out law to say officially that something cannot be considered as proof in a court of law

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

strike out
1.
to begin moving or acting with energy or determination.
At dawn they struck out on foot toward the town.

2.
to fail.
In the past our ads have been successful, but we struck out this time.

Etymology: from an expression used in baseball, referring to a play in which the hitter fails to hit the ball

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

strike out
1. fail
The criminal struck out in his attempt to change the punishment that he had received from the judge.

We struck out in our attempt to gather enough support to build a new cafeteria in our building.

2. in baseball a player is "out" after three strikes
The baseball player did not strike out at all during the game.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

strike out
v.
1. To destroy something that has been written or drawn by drawing a line or cross through it or by erasing it.
John misspelled "corollary. " He struck it out and wrote it correctly.
2. To begin to follow a new path or a course of action that you have never tried.
The boy scouts struck out at daybreak over the mountain pass.
John quit his job and struck out on his own as a traveling salesman.
3. To put (a batter) out of play by making him miss the ball three times; also: To be put out of play by missing the ball three times.
The pitcher struck out three men in the game.
The batter struck out twice.
4. To push out an arm suddenly in a hitting motion.
The boxer saw his chance and struck out at his opponent's jaw.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲