strike down
Medium in legal contexts, low in everyday speech.Formal, legal.
Definition
Meaning
To declare invalid or unconstitutional, especially by a court of law.
To defeat, overcome, or render ineffective; can also mean to kill or incapacitate in a metaphorical or literal sense, though less common.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often used in passive voice; implies an authoritative or decisive rejection.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning; both varieties use it primarily in legal and formal contexts.
Connotations
Slightly more associated with American English due to frequent judicial review processes.
Frequency
More commonly encountered in American legal terminology and media.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Transitive: strike down + object (e.g., strike down a law)Object can be placed between: strike + object + down (e.g., strike a law down)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific; 'strike down' functions as a phrasal verb.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in regulatory compliance discussions, e.g., 'The new tariff was struck down by the trade board.'
Academic
Frequent in legal studies and political science, e.g., 'The paper analyzes cases where laws were struck down.'
Everyday
Rare; occasionally metaphorical, e.g., 'A sudden illness struck him down.'
Technical
Core terminology in legal systems, especially regarding constitutional review.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The High Court struck down the discriminatory regulation.
- Parliament may strike down outdated bylaws.
American English
- The Supreme Court struck down the state ban.
- Federal judges can strike down unconstitutional measures.
adjective
British English
- The struck-down ordinance prompted local debate.
- A struck-down clause requires revision.
American English
- The struck-down provision led to legal appeals.
- Struck-down policies often face public scrutiny.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The king struck down the unfair rule.
- Bad weather struck down our picnic plans.
- The court struck down the new tax law.
- Their proposal was struck down by the committee.
- The constitutional court struck down the amendment for violating rights.
- Activists sought to strike down the controversial regulation.
- The judiciary's authority to strike down legislation is a cornerstone of checks and balances.
- Historical analysis reveals how pivotal laws were struck down due to evolving societal norms.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Visualize a judge's gavel striking down a document labeled 'law', symbolizing its cancellation.
Conceptual Metaphor
Justice as a physical force that eliminates injustice; invalidation as a destructive blow.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation 'ударить вниз'; use 'отменить', 'признать недействительным', or 'аннулировать'.
Common Mistakes
- Omitting the object: incorrect: 'The court struck down.' Correct: 'The court struck down the appeal.'
- Confusing with 'strike out', which means to fail or delete.
Practice
Quiz
In legal terminology, what is the primary meaning of 'strike down'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it can be used metaphorically in other areas, such as sports (e.g., 'The team struck down their opponents') or health (e.g., 'Disease struck down the population'), but this is less common.
No, it can be used in any tense; for example, present: 'The court strikes down laws,' future: 'They will strike down the policy,' or past: 'The law was struck down.'
'Strike down' typically involves a judicial action to invalidate, while 'repeal' is a legislative action to revoke a law. Both result in cancellation, but through different branches of government.
Remember that 'strike down' focuses on invalidation or defeat, often by authority, while 'strike out' means to fail, delete, or begin a new endeavor. Context usually clarifies the meaning.