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strike down

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strike someone or something down

to knock someone or something down by striking. Max struck Lefty down with one blow. He struck down the weeds with a scythe.

See also: down, strike

strike something down

[for a court] to invalidate a ruling or law. The higher court struck the ruling of the lower court down. The court struck down the ruling.

See also: down, strike

strike down something

also strike something down

to decide that a law, rule, or order is not legal The court struck down the law, saying that it was unconstitutional.

See also: down, strike

strike down

1. Fell with a blow or misfortune, as in The tree was struck down by lightning, or He was struck down by tuberculosis while in his twenties. [Late 1400s]

2. Render ineffective, cancel, especially in a legal context. For example, The appeals court struck down the verdict. [Late 1800s]

See also: down, strike

strike down

v.

1. To cause someone or something to fall by a blow: Boxing experts are predicting that the champion will strike down the contender in the third round. I grabbed a wrench and struck the intruder down with a blow to the head.

2. To incapacitate or kill someone. Used chiefly in the passive: Hundreds of civilians were struck down during the first week of the war. Smokers need to realize that heart disease can strike them down in the prime of their lives.

3. To render something ineffective; cancel something: The committee struck down the proposal we've worked so hard on, so we'll have to start all over again. The Supreme Court determined that the law was unconstitutional and struck it down accordingly.

See also: down, strike