dry-gulching
Attacking from concealment
Dry-gulching is ambushing or attacking someone from a position of concealment, originally in the American West where a dry gulch—a ravine without water—offered natural cover for an ambush.
The term extends to any underhanded attack or betrayal: The candidate accused his opponent of dry-gulching him with last-minute attack ads.
To dry-gulch someone is to blindside them unfairly.
Surprise attack from cover
- waylayIntercept to confront
- trapDevice for catching animals
- hideoutSecret place of refuge
- stalkingStealthy, persistent pursuit
lying in wait · surprise attack · raid · assault · entrapment · stealth · encirclement · flanking
Surprise strike from concealment
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- betrayalBreaking of trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- underhandedSecretly dishonest or unfair
sneaky · cowardly · dastardly · perfidy · duplicity · scheming · conniving · foul play
Fugitive from justice
- banditArmed roadside thief
- desperadoBold, reckless outlaw
- rustlerOne who steals cattle
- gunslingerExpert pistol fighter
frontier · posse · stagecoach · bounty hunter · claim jumper · bushwhacker · holdup · robbery
bushwhack
Surprise attack from cover
stalking · lying in wait · surprise attack · raid · assault · entrapment · stealth · encirclement · flanking · pincer
ambush
Surprise strike from concealment
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- betrayalBreaking of trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
underhanded · sneaky · cowardly · dastardly · perfidy · duplicity · scheming · conniving · foul play · dishonorable
outlaw
Fugitive from justice
gunslinger · frontier · posse · stagecoach · bounty hunter · claim jumper · bushwhacker · holdup · robbery · canyon
murder
Deliberate unlawful killing
- killingCausing death deliberately
- assassinationMurder of a prominent figure
- homicideCausing another's death
bloodshed · deadly · lethal · brutality · savagery · attack · shooting · robbery · holdup · assault
dry-gulchingformal challenge
Official demand for contest
frontal assault · called out · throwing down the gauntlet · declared war · warning shot
dry, gulch, drier, dryer, dries, dried, drying, driest, dryly