first strike
An attack launched without warning in the absence of a prior attack by one's opponent,…An attack (typically nuclear) launched without warning in the absence of a prior attack by one's opponent, with the intention of destroying one's opponent's ability to retaliate.
» It was the first thing that struck my eye.
Это первое, что бросилось мне в глаза. — sharptoothed
sharptoothed · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FRMeaning
3 sensesAn attack (typically nuclear) launched without warning in the absence of a prior attack by one's opponent, with the intention of destroying one's opponent's ability to retaliate.
Near-synonym: decapitation strike
During the Cold War, both sides feared that the other was preparing to launch a first strike.
A first offense by a lawbreaker, as counted by a three-strikes law.
His first strike was when he stole a car to go for a joyride.
One of the first few coins struck from a new set of dies.
Collectors pay a premium for first strikes in order to get their hands on coins with the crispest possible detailing.
- the initial use of nuclear weapons to attack a country that also has nuclear weapons; considered feasible only when the attacker can destroy the other country's ability to retaliate
Examples
4 sentencesIt was the first thing that struck my eye.
ruЭто первое, что бросилось мне в глаза. — sharptoothed
That wasn't the first hunger strike there.
deDas war nicht der erste Hungerstreik dort. — al_ex_an_der
The first air striking unit consisted of 50 Zero fighters, 40 torpedo bombers and 81 dive bombers.
ruПервое ударное воздушное соединение насчитывало 50 истребителей зеро, 40 торпедоносцев и 81 пикирующий бомбардировщик. — sigavax
O'erwhelmed with odds, we perish; first of all, / struck down by fierce Peneleus by the fane / of warlike Pallas, doth Coroebus fall.
Forms
plural: first strikes| Singular | first strike |
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| Plural | first strikes |
regular