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Strike

October 2010

Cartoon by Gymglish

Fun Facts

• Strikes have been recorded (on papyrus) as early as the 12th century BCE, when Egyptian artisans refused to work on Pharaohs' tombs.

• Strikes are extremely popular in France, where workers often strike for the right to strike.

• The recent Hollywood Writers' Strike resulted in a small pay raise for writers, and many crappy episodes of Prison Break.

Definitions

Strike (noun):
1. a hit or attack.
2. an organized interruption or stoppage of work.

To strike (verb):
1. to hit or attack physically.
2. to participate in a work stoppage, also: to go on strike.

Striking Expressions

A strike is a perfect throw in bowling, unless you're over the line, Smokey.

To strike out: to fail or not succeed.

To strike a deal: to agree to a deal, to reach an agreement.

Ex: Most strikes strike out unless a deal is struck.

Also

“To strike” is an irregular verb:

We strike in the streets of Paris.
The police struck a person on strike.
We have struck a deal with the people on strike: The police will no longer be striking them.


Although the verb “to strike” is irregular in English, it is a regular action in France.
Cartoon by Gymglish

Definitions

Strike (noun):
1. a hit or attack.
2. an organized interruption or stoppage of work.

To strike (verb):
1. to hit or attack physically.
2. to participate in a work stoppage, also: to go on strike.

Striking Expressions

A strike is a perfect throw in bowling, unless you're over the line, Smokey.

To strike out: to fail or not succeed.

To strike a deal: to agree to a deal, to reach an agreement.

Ex: Most strikes strike out unless a deal is struck.

Fun Facts

• Strikes have been recorded (on papyrus) as early as the 12th century BCE, when Egyptian artisans refused to work on Pharaohs' tombs.

• Strikes are extremely popular in France, where workers often strike for the right to strike.

• The recent Hollywood Writers' Strike resulted in a small pay raise for writers, and many crappy episodes of Prison Break.

Also

“To strike” is an irregular verb:

We strike in the streets of Paris.
The police struck a person on strike.
We have struck a deal with the people on strike: The police will no longer be striking them.


Although the verb “to strike” is irregular in English, it is a regular action in France.

The Word of the Month is created by Gymglish, in partnership with Le Monde.
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