attack
attack — verb
1. to use physical force against a person, place, or army in order to injure them o
to use physical force against a person, place, or army in order to injure them or win a fight
Rebels attacked the army camp before sunrise on Monday.
attack + place
Two men attacked a taxi driver outside the train station.
attack + person
Enemy planes attacked the bridge after the town lost power.
The dog suddenly attacked Leo when he opened the gate.
文法句型
attack somebody
attack something
attack
用法筆記
Often takes the target directly as its object. Distinguish from sense 5: this sense is about violent force against a person, place, or enemy, not energetic work on a task.
常見錯誤
2. to speak or write against someone or something in a very forceful way
to speak or write against someone or something in a very forceful way
The minister attacked the report in a tense TV interview.
attack + report
Several writers attacked the company for hiding test results.
attack somebody for + -ing
In her speech, Dana attacked the policy as unfair.
The paper attacked city leaders after the school budget cuts.
文法句型
attack somebody
attack something
attack somebody for something
用法筆記
Common in news, politics, and argument. The object is usually a person, plan, report, or public action rather than a physical target.
常見錯誤
3. if a disease, chemical, or insect attacks part of a body or object, it starts ha
if a disease, chemical, or insect attacks part of a body or object, it starts harming it
The acid attacked the metal pipe under the kitchen sink.
subject is a chemical
Diabetes can attack the eyes if treatment starts too late.
disease attacks body part
Salt air attacked the paint on boats near the harbor.
Tiny insects attacked the leaves of every bean plant.
- damage
broader and does not suggest a harmful process beginning or spreading
- eat away at
highlights slow damage over time, especially to surfaces
- affect
much weaker and less clearly harmful
文法句型
something attacks something
disease attacks body part
用法筆記
The subject is usually something destructive such as a disease, rust, salt, acid, or insects. Distinguish from sense 1: here there is damage, but no human act of violence is implied.
4. in games such as football, to go toward the other side and look for a chance to
in games such as football, to go toward the other side and look for a chance to score
After halftime, Brazil attacked down the left side again.
attack down + side
Our team attacked early and won three corners in ten minutes.
With two minutes left, the home side attacked bravely.
City attacked from the wing, but the cross was poor.
- press forward
stresses moving up the field rather than the scoring attempt itself
- go forward
simpler and less tactical
- push on
can be used more generally and is less tied to sport
文法句型
attack
attack down the wing
attack from the left
用法筆記
Used without a direct object in sports reports. It often appears with words showing direction, such as down, through, from, or on the break.
常見錯誤
5. to begin working on a problem or job, or to start eating food, with a lot of ene
to begin working on a problem or job, or to start eating food, with a lot of energy and speed
Mia attacked the math problem with a fresh sheet of paper.
attack + problem
Fire crews attacked the blaze from both sides of the road.
attack + difficult situation
After practice, the boys attacked the noodles in silence.
Engineers attacked the leak before more water reached the shops.
- tackle
the closest neutral word for starting difficult work
- get stuck into
informal and very close in energetic tone
- dig into
often used for food or for beginning detailed work
文法句型
attack a problem
attack a fire
attack food
用法筆記
The object is usually a task, problem, fire, leak, or meal. Distinguish from sense 1: the tone is energetic rather than violent, and the target is usually not a person or enemy.
常見錯誤
attack — noun
1. a violent event in which someone tries to hurt people, damage property, or fight
a violent event in which someone tries to hurt people, damage property, or fight an enemy
Police are investigating last night's attack on the corner store.
attack on + place
Three workers died in the attack near the border road.
The embassy closed after an attack damaged its front gate.
The village prepared shelters after the first air attack.
文法句型
attack on somebody
attack on something
用法筆記
Often followed by on when the target is named. This is the main physical-violence noun sense of attack.
2. a harsh public statement, article, or argument against someone or something
a harsh public statement, article, or argument against someone or something
Her article was an attack on the judge's recent decision.
attack on + decision
During the debate, Sam launched a personal attack on Lee.
launch an attack on somebody
The ad drew criticism for its unfair attack on teachers.
His speech became an attack on the whole education system.
- criticism
broader and can be mild, not always hostile
- denunciation
more formal and often moral or political
- slam
informal noun in journalism for a very harsh public criticism
文法句型
attack on somebody
attack on something
用法筆記
Usually refers to criticism made in words, writing, or media. Distinguish from noun sense 1: no physical violence is involved here.
3. a brief time when someone suddenly becomes ill, often quite badly
a brief time when someone suddenly becomes ill, often quite badly
Grandma had an attack of flu and stayed in bed.
attack of + illness
Ben left work early after an attack of dizziness.
attack of + symptom
During the flight, Omar suffered an attack of asthma.
The baby woke again after an attack of coughing.
- recovery
means becoming well again
文法句型
attack of something
用法筆記
Usually appears in the pattern attack of + illness or symptom. It often describes a sudden episode rather than a long continuing sickness.
4. a short time when a feeling, wish, or condition suddenly takes control of you
a short time when a feeling, wish, or condition suddenly takes control of you
At the cliff edge, Nora felt an attack of panic.
attack of + emotion
One attack of jealousy ruined their quiet dinner together.
After the phone call, Max had an attack of laughter.
The class sat still during Emma's attack of stage fright.
- calm
suggests a steady controlled state
文法句型
attack of something
用法筆記
Also follows attack of + noun, but the noun names a feeling or reaction rather than an illness. Distinguish from noun sense 3 by checking whether the episode is emotional or medical.
5. the group of players on a team whose main job is to score
the group of players on a team whose main job is to score
Our attack looked stronger after the new striker arrived.
team's attack = attacking players
The coach rested the whole attack before Saturday's final.
Without Kim, the team's attack lost speed and width.
Spain's attack pressed high from the opening whistle.
- forward line
a more specific term for the front attacking players
- front line
can name the leading players, especially in football writing
文法句型
team's attack
用法筆記
This sense names the attacking players as a unit. Distinguish from noun sense 6, which is about attacking play or pressure during the game, not the players themselves.
6. a time in a game when a team pushes forward and tries to score or get ahead
a time in a game when a team pushes forward and tries to score or get ahead
The home side kept up the attack for most of the half.
keep up the attack
One quick attack gave the visitors their winning goal.
quick attack
Under heavy rain, neither team could mount much of an attack.
On the final hill, Marta launched an attack and broke away.
文法句型
keep up the attack
launch an attack
用法筆記
Usually refers to action during play, not to the attacking players themselves. It can be used in football, hockey, cycling, and similar sports.
7. a planned effort to stop, reduce, or deal with a serious problem
a planned effort to stop, reduce, or deal with a serious problem
The city began a new attack on illegal parking downtown.
attack on + problem
Doctors called for a stronger attack on childhood obesity.
The group's attack on plastic waste started in small beach towns.
Parliament backed an attack on long hospital waiting times.
文法句型
attack on something
用法筆記
Usually appears with on plus a social problem, cost, or difficulty. The idea is active effort, not violence.
8. the damage caused when disease, insects, chemicals, or similar things start harm
the damage caused when disease, insects, chemicals, or similar things start harming something
The crop showed clear signs of attack by small green insects.
attack by + cause
The walls crumbled after years of attack by salt air.
attack by + damaging force
Doctors watched for signs of nerve attack after the bite.
Lab tests measured the attack of rust on the bridge cables.
- protection
means being kept safe from harmful effects
- repair
focuses on fixing damage after it happens
文法句型
attack by something
attack of something
用法筆記
Usually appears with by or of to name the damaging cause. Distinguish from noun sense 3: this sense is about harm to a thing or body part, not a person becoming suddenly ill.
attack — adjective
1. made for, planned for, or used in actions against an enemy
made for, planned for, or used in actions against an enemy
The army sent two attack helicopters over the river at dawn.
attack helicopter
Soldiers stored attack plans in a locked metal case.
attack plans
The base trained new crews for attack missions at sea.
Radar picked up several attack aircraft near the coast.
- defensive
meant for protection rather than striking first
文法句型
attack helicopter
attack plan
attack mission
用法筆記
Usually comes before a noun and is strongly tied to military equipment, plans, or operations.
2. showing harsh and aggressive criticism, especially in public argument
showing harsh and aggressive criticism, especially in public argument
The candidate ran an attack ad before the final debate.
attack ad
Voters were tired of attack language on late-night talk shows.
attack language
The meeting ended after three attack questions from reporters.
Her post sounded like another attack piece against local nurses.
- hostile
broader and can describe attitude, not just criticism
- aggressive
slightly wider in meaning and not always verbal
- negative
weaker and less sharp than attack in political or media use
- supportive
shows approval rather than hostile criticism
- fair
suggests balanced treatment instead of one-sided attack
文法句型
attack ad
attack language
attack question
用法筆記
Most often appears before nouns such as ad, line, question, or piece. Distinguish from adjective sense 1: this sense is about aggressive criticism, not military action.