strike

noun

Strike — a sudden, conspicuous success achieved in a single decisive moment

Definition

A conspicuous success; "that song was his first hit and marked the beginning of his career"; "that new Broadway show is a real smasher"; "the party went with a bang"

In depth

A strike, in this sense, names a conspicuous success, often one achieved suddenly and decisively, much as a prospector might 'strike' gold or oil after long searching. The word carries an inherent sense of fortune meeting effort, the precise moment when persistent searching or labor finally pays off.

Origin

The word descends from Old English strican, to stroke or rub, evolving through centuries of use to encompass striking a blow, striking gold, and ultimately, the broader figurative sense of sudden, decisive success. That evolution traces a path from physical contact to fortunate discovery, the moment of contact transformed into a moment of revelation.

Usage examples

"That song was his first hit, a genuine strike that marked the beginning of a long and celebrated career."

"The company's strike in the new market came after years of disappointing, unprofitable attempts."

"Geologists called it the biggest strike in the region's history, transforming the small town almost overnight."

How to use it

Strike in this sense of conspicuous success is somewhat less common today than its near-synonyms, though it remains vivid in contexts describing prospecting, mining, or sudden discovery, and writers should distinguish it carefully from the far more common sense of a labor strike or physical blow.