strike out

Verb

strike out (third-person singular simple present strikes out, present participle striking out, simple past struck out, past participle struck out or (rare or archaic) stricken out)

1. (intransitive, often) To lash out; to strike or hit at someone or something, particularly something in arm's length of the striker and at or near the level of the striker's head.
   • The gallant old skipper had struck out with his fist and the blow took effect; "spread the chap's nose all ower his fyesce" as he afterwards said ...1885, James Runciman, Grace Balmaign's sweetheart, page 203
2. (figuratively) To strongly criticize or make a verbal attack, particularly as a response to previous criticism or provocation.
   • ... 1937, before the Maryland Farm Bureau Federation, he struck out at his critics. He said: When the Federal Government first undertook to help farmers get ...1954, Kenneth E. Trombley, The life and times of a happy liberal: a biography of Morris Llewellyn Cooke, page 163
3. To draw a line through some text such as a printed or written sentence, with the purpose of deleting that text from the rest of the document.
   • Mr. Randolph moved to strike out the words, "each House" and to insert the words, "the House of Representatives" in Sect. 7.1787, James Madison, The Writings of James Madison: 1787. Journal of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, published 1903, page 165
   • This document allowed for the king to reject the draft constitution in its entirety but appeared not to provide for the possibility that he might ask to strike out lines he did not like.2017 January 14, “Thailand's new king rejects the army's proposed constitution”, in The Economist

   Synonyms:

   cross out, strike through

4. (figuratively) to treat something as settled
   • A Suit filed by respondent Establissment Sima of Vaduz was on the 2nd day of March, 1988 struck out by the Federal High Court. An application under Order 9 rule 6 Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules was argued before that court on 17th day of October, 1988 for relisting the suit. Even though...1990 December 14, Supreme Court of Nigeria, Nigeria National Supply Co. Ltd v Establissment Sima of Vaduz, number SC 137/1989
   • The Government requested that the applications be partly struck out of the list of cases in accordance with Article 37 § 1 (c) of the Convention, challenging the right of the heirs of the four applicants who had died in the course of the proceedings (Mr Hristozov, Mr Petrov, Ms Pencheva and Mr...2012 November 13, European Court of Human Rights, Hristozov and others v. Bulgaria, number 47039/11, marginal 68
5. (ergative) Of a batter, to be retired after three strikes (missed swings, as opposed to any other way of becoming "out"); of a pitcher, to cause this to happen to the batter.
   • Jones struck out on a nasty slider.
   • The pitcher struck out Jones with a nasty slider.

   Synonyms:

   punch out

6. (colloquial, figuratively, intransitive) To fail; to be refused a request or to have a proposal not be accepted, in particular a request for a (hopefully romantic) date.
   • Dave asked the new girl to the dance but he struck out.
7. To begin to make one's way.
   • The travellers struck out towards the line of mountains.
   • A boy strikes out on his own with only the ability to collect and control monsters to help him rise through the ranks of a mysterious competition.2007 December, George Sinfield, “Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker”, in Nintendo Power, volume 222, page 86