Strike Up

1. to deal a blow or stroke to (a person or thing), as with the fist, a weapon, or a hammer; hit. 2. to inflict, deliver, or deal (a blow, stroke, attack, etc.). 3. to drive so as to cause impact: to strike the hands together. 4. to thrust forcibly: Brutus struck a dagger into the dying Caesar. 5. to produce (fire, sparks, light, etc.) by percussion, friction, etc. 6. to cause (a match) to ignite by friction. 7. (of some natural or supernatural agency) to smite or blast: Lightning struck the spire. May God strike you dead! 8. to come into forcible contact or collision with; hit into or against: The ship struck a rock. 9. to reach or fall upon (the senses), as light or sound: A shrill peal of bells struck their ears. 10. to enter the mind of; occur to: A happy thought struck him. 11. to catch or arrest (the sight, hearing, etc.): the first object that strikes one's eye. 12. to impress strongly: a picture that strikes one's fancy. 13. to impress in a particular manner: How does it strike you? 14. to come across, meet with, or encounter suddenly or unexpectedly: to strike the name of a friend in a newspaper. 15. to come upon or find (oil, ore, etc.) in drilling, prospecting, or the like. 16. to send down or put forth (a root), as a plant or cutting. 17. to arrive at or achieve by or as by balancing: to strike a balance; to strike a compromise. 18. to take apart or pull down (a structure or object, as a tent). 19. to remove from the stage (the scenery and properties of an act or scene): to strike a set. 20. Nautical. to lower or take down (a sail, mast, etc.). to lower (a sail, flag, etc.) as a salute or as a sign of surrender. to lower (something) into the hold of a vessel by means of a rope and tackle. 21. Falconry. to loosen (a hood) from the head of a hawk so that it may be instantly removed. 22. Angling. to hook (a fish that has taken the bait) by making a sharp jerk on the line. (of a fish) to snatch at (the bait). 23. to harpoon (a whale). 24. (in technical use) to make level or smooth. 25. to make level or even, as a measure of grain or salt, by drawing a strickle across the top. 26. to efface, cancel, or cross out, with or as with the stroke of a pen (usually followed by out): to strike a passage out of a book. 27. to impress or stamp (a coin, medal, etc.) by printing or punching: to strike a medal in commemoration. 28. to remove or separate with or as if with a cut (usually followed by off): Illness struck him off from social contacts. The butcher struck off a chop. 29. Masonry. to finish (a mortar joint) with a stroke of the trowel. 30. to indicate (the hour of day) by a stroke or strokes, as a clock: to strike 12. 31. to afflict suddenly, as with disease, suffering, or death (often followed by down): The plague struck Europe. Apoplexy struck him down. 32. to overwhelm emotionally, as with terror or fear; affect deeply. 33. to make blind, dumb, etc., suddenly, as if by a blow. 34. to implant or induce (a feeling): to strike fear into a person. 35. to start or move suddenly into (vigorous movement): The horse struck a gallop. 36. to assume (an attitude or posture): He likes to strike a noble pose. 37. to cause (chill, warmth, etc.) to pass or penetrate quickly. 38. to come upon or reach in traveling or in a course of procedure: We struck Rome before dark. 39. to make, conclude, or ratify (an agreement, treaty, etc.). 40. to estimate or determine (a mean or average). 41. to leave off (work) or stop (working) as a coercive measure, or as at the close of the day. 42. to declare or engage in a suspension of (work) until an employer grants certain demands, such as pay increases, an improved pension plan, etc. to declare or engage in a suspension of work against (a factory, employer, industry, etc.) until certain demands are met. 43. to draw (a straight line); paint the edge of an area with (a regular, usually straight line). 44. Law. to choose (a jury) from a panel by striking off names until only the required number remains.