strike first
Hit before them
Strike first means to attack before being attacked, seizing the initiative rather than waiting to respond.
The phrase implies preemptive action—hitting an opponent before they can hit you: The best defense is to strike first.
It extends beyond physical combat to any competitive situation where acting first confers advantage: In business, sometimes you have to strike first or lose the market.
- preemptiveActing to forestall
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
- sucker punchUnanticipated strike without warning
- initiativeSelf-directed action capacity
- aggressorOne who initiates conflict
surprise attack · element of surprise · blitz · offensive · sneak attack · Pearl Harbor · lightning · advantage · swift · decisive · assault · charge · pounce · blindside · catch off guard · unprovoked · launch · intercept
- strategystrategy, grand strategy, tactics, tactic, tactical
strike firstretaliate
Respond to injury alike
strike back · counterattack · respond · react · fight back
strike firstturn the other cheek
Refuse to retaliate
hold fire · stand down · wait and see · defend · de-escalate
strike, first, strikes, struck, stricken, striking, striker, strikers, firsts