Reverse Dictionary: ATTACK

ADJECTIVES
► DOWN ON attacking physically → 19C 
► ILL-SET-ON foully attacked → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► JACKED attacked, stabbed → 1980 sl.
► MAN-KEEN inclined to attack people; fierce, savage → 1300 chiefly said of an animal, rarely a person
► OUTED attacked, knocked out → 1900 sl.
► SAULTABLE capable of being attacked or assaulted → 1556 obs.
► SMART of a battle, attack, etc.: fierce, violent; esp. vigorous and quick → 1400 

INTERJECTIONS
► WHAM! used to convey the impact of a sudden violent attack or blow → 1940 US
► WHAMMO! used to convey the impact of a sudden violent attack or blow → 1940 US

NOUNS
► ACOUNTER an attack; an armed encounter → 1330 obs.
► AFFRAY an attack, an assault → 1380 
► AFFRET a sudden attack; an onslaught → 1590 obs.
► AFFRONT an attack; an assault; a hostile encounter → 1587 obs.
► AFFRONTURE attack, assault; the act of confronting or opposing in hostility → 1549 obs.
► AGGRESS an attack; an act of aggression → 1611 
► AGGRESSEE the object of an attack; a nation, etc. towards whom or which aggression is directed → 1854 
► ANSLAIGHT a fierce or destructive attack, an onslaught, an affray → 1625 obs.
► BEATS, THE a physical attack → 2007 sl. (Bk.)
► BIRST an attack, a battle, a fight → 1805 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► BLAST a verbal attack → 2006 US sl. (Bk.)
► BLITZ a devastating attack → 2006 US sl. (Bk.)
► BRASH an attack → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BRUNT a violent attack → 1981 Aust. colloq., arch. (Bk.)
► CANVASADO 1. a sudden attack → 1581 obs.
2. a night attack, a ‘camisado’ → 1626 obs.
► CANVASS a shock; esp. that of a sudden attack or surprise → 1611 obs.
► COUP DE MAIN a sudden and vigorous attack → 1759 UK
► DEAD SET a pointed attack on or approach to another person, often in the context of wooing → L18 sl.
► DISSLE an attack → 1825 Sc.
► FRUMRESE a first attack, onslaught → 1275 obs.
► HATCHET JOB a fierce and unwanted verbal attack on someone or  something, esp. in print, and esp. one intended to ruin their reputation → 1944 sl.
► INFALL an attack, invasion, or onslaught → 1721 Sc. obs.
► INGATE an attack, an inroad → 1902 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► JUGGING an attack with a jug of boiling sugared water → 2000 UK prison sl.
► MUSKETADE an attack with muskets; heavy musket fire → 1649 obs.
► NAIL-PIE an attack upon a person with the fingernails → 1864 Eng. dial.
► OCCURSATION attack; encounter; an act of running against something; meeting; collision → 1615 obs.
► OCCURSION attack, encounter; meeting; collision → 1533 obs.
► ONCOME an attack, an invasion → 1340 obs.
► ONDING an attack, an assault, an onset, an outburst, of noise, talk, etc. → 1871 Sc.
► ONDINGING an attack; an assault, an onset, an outburst, of noise, talk, etc. → 1828 Sc.
► ONFALL an attack or access of disease, plague, or calamity; an assault, on onset → 1000 obs. exc. Sc.
► ONSETTING an attack, an assault → 1541 obs.
► OPPUGNATION the act of attacking or assaulting; attack, assault → 1533 
► OPPUGNING attacking, assailing → 1535 
► POLEMIC a controversial argument; a strong verbal or written attack on a person → 1626 
► PULSE a stroke, a blow; an attack, an assault → 1587 obs.
► PUSH a vigorous charge, onset, or assault; an attack → 1565 obs., chiefly military usage
► SAILYIE ► SAILZIE attack, assault, onset → 1827 Sc.
► SAULT attack, assault → 1297 obs.
► SAULTING the act of attacking or assaulting → 1489 obs.
► SHOWER a military attack or assault → 1375 obs.
► SIMULTANEITY a simultaneous attack → 1858 
► SKECK an attack made for the sake of plunder; a petty raid → 1297 obs.
► SKEG an attack made for the sake of plunder; a petty raid → 1542 obs.
► SLAP an attack on someone → L19  sl.
► SOURCE n. an assault or attack → 1616 obs.
► SUBREPTION sudden or unforeseen attack, as of temptation → 1632 obs.
► TACK an attack → 19C Eng. dial.
► TRIPLE WHAMMY a three-part attack, difficulty, threat, etc. → 1940 US sl.
► VENUE an attack or assault; a coming on, in order to strike → 1330 obs.
► WAKING a night-attack → 1525 obs.

NOUNS – PERSON
► AGGRESSEE a person towards whom aggression is directed; the object of an attack → 1854 
► SANDBAGGER a person who lulls an opponent into security, and then suddenly attacks → 1940 US sl.

VERBS
► AFFRAY to attack, to assault → 1390 obs.
► AFFRONT to attack, to assault; to engage in battle → 1579 obs.
► AGGRESS to attack, to assault, to set upon → 1596 
► BADMOUTH to attack verbally, to slander → 1940 sl.
► BATTER to subject persons, opinions, etc. to heavy, crushing, or persistent attack → 1578 
► BATTLE to attack verbally → 1998 US sl.
► BEGIN UPON A PERSON to attack or assail a person → 1825 
► BESAIL to attack, to assail → 1460 obs.
► BESET to attack → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► BICKER to attack with repeated strokes, to pelt with stones; to strike repeatedly → 1827 Sc.
► BIP to attack verbally or physically → 1893 Amer. dial.
► BITE SOMEONE’S HEAD OFF to attack verbally, esp. as a disproportionate response → 1984 UK sl.
► BLAST to attack verbally, to criticize → 2006 US sl. (Bk.)
► BLISTER to attack someone; to attack someone verbally → 1968 Aust. sl.
► BOOST to attack → 1930 US sl.
► BOTTLE to attack someone with a bottle, esp. in the face → 1984 UK sl.
► BUG to attack someone with bricks, bottles, and boots → 1966 UK vagrant alcoholics’ sl.
► BULL-DOG to attack like a bull-dog; to assail or treat roughly → 1842 
► BUM-RUSH to attack with a sudden, violent rush, esp. as a group or gang; to assail, to assault → 1988 orig. African-American
► BUSHWHACK to attack by surprise; to ambush → 1866 Amer. dial.
► BUST ON to attack verbally, to criticize or scold; in a weakened sense, to tease, to mock → 1961 
► CANVAS ► CANVASS to subject to attack or assault → 1599 obs.
► CHIV ► CHIVE to attack with a sharp instrument; to stab → 1725 criminals’ sl.
► CHIVEY ► CHIVVY to attack with a sharp instrument; to stab → 1959 Brit. sl.
► COP A HEEL ► COP AND HEEL to attack from behind → 20C US prison sl.
► COP A SUNDAY to attack suddenly by surprise → 1930 US prison sl.
► CRAWL ONE’S HUMP to attack someone; to start a bodily attack upon one → 1907 US West. sl.
► CROSSBITE to attack or censure bitingly or bitterly → 1571 obs.
► DEAL IT OUT ► DEAL OUT to attack verbally; to punish → 20C Aust. sl.
► DEAL SOMEONE ONE to attack someone; to give someone a blow or beating → 1980 NZ sl.
► DOWNMOUTH to attack verbally, to slander → 1981 US sl.
► DROP INTO to attack fiercely → 20C colloq.
► FALL ABOARD ► FALL ABOARD OF to attack, to fall upon → 1604 obs.
► FALL A-BONES OF ANYONE to attack, to assail → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► FALL DOWN ON to attack → 1960 African-American & gang sl.
► FANG AWAY to attack violently, to fight → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► FAUNCE to make a sudden violent attack → 1858 Amer. dial.
► FEATHER INTO to attack vigorously; to fight → 1917 Amer. dial.
► FILL IN SOMEONE’S COUPON to attack a person’s face with the jagged end of a smashed bottle → L20 Sc. sl.
► GANG to attack or kill as part of a gang, to gang up on → 1920 US sl.
► GIVE BELLOWS TO MEND to make a sharp attack upon, to beat soundly → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► GIVE SOMEONE ARSEHOLES to attack someone with vigour → 1968 NZ sl.
► GIVE SOMEONE ONIONS to attack physically → 1874 sl.
► GLASS to attack someone’s face using a glass or bottle as a weapon → 1936 UK sl.
► GO ABOARD OF SOMEONE to attack or scold vigorously; to act vigorously and aggressively → 1980 Can. sl.
► GO FOR THE JUGULAR to launch an aggressive or unrestrained attack; to target an adversary’s weakest or most vulnerable point → 1977 
► GO TO TOWN ON to attack excessively either verbally or physically → 1992 Ireland
► GO TO WORK ON to attack → M19 sl.
► GRUNGE to attack, to assault, to terrify → 1960 sl.
► GUN to attack verbally → 2003 UK sl.
► HAVE A SMACK AT to make an attack on → 1679 
► HAVE SOMEONE ON to attack physically → 1950 sl.
► HEAVE AT to threaten an attack upon; to take up a position of hostility to; to oppose → 1546 obs.
► INTERRUPT to attack, to pursue; to interfere with; to annoy, to cause discomfort to → 1902 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► JAP to make a sneak attack on someone → 1957 US sl.
► JUG to attack someone with a jug of boiling water, esp. sugared water → 1996 UK sl.
► JUMP ON ► JUMP UPON to attack, verbally or physically, someone who is seen to have exposed themselves to such an assault by their behaviour or their weakness → M19 sl.
► JUMP ON SOMEONE’S BONES ► JUMP SOMEONE’S BONES  to attack → 1980 sl.
► JUMP UP SOMEONE’S ASS to attack someone → 1977 Amer. sl.
► LACE INTO to attack, to beat, to thrash → E19 sl.
► LASH to attack; to assail → 1330 obs.
► LAY IN to attack with vigour → 1888 colloq.
► LEAP FOR THE JUGULAR to launch an aggressive or unrestrained attack; to target an adversary’s weakest or most vulnerable point → 1939 
► LET INTO to attack → 1851 sl.
► LIGHT UP to attack or hit someone → 1970 African-American sl.
► LURRY INTO to attack, to get stuck into → 1940 Irish sl.
► MAD-DOG to attack verbally → 1990 US students’ sl.
► MALKY to attack and cut someone with a razor; to stab → 1985 Sc. sl.
► MOB ► MOB IT to attack in a large group → M18 sl.
► MONSTER to make a verbal attack on someone or something; to put pressure on → 1967 Aust. sl.
► MUG to attack and rob a person, esp. in a public place → 1864 colloq.
► NYAM to attack, to arrest → 1971 Black British sl.
► OFFEND to attack, to assault, to assail; also, to act on the offensive → 1374 obs.
► ONSEEK to attack → 1205 obs.
► ONSET to attack, to make an onset upon; to set upon → 1602 obs.
► OPPUGN to attack, to fight against, to assault, to besiege → 1432 obs.
► PANEL to attack, to beat up → 1990 sl.
► PUKE SOMEONE OFF to attack, to cause trouble for → 1960 sl.
► PUT ONE’S FOOT IN SOMEONE’S ASS to attack someone physically; to treat someone unkindly → 1940 US African-American sl.
► PUT THE SLUG ON to hit or attack → 1940 US sl.
► RABBLE to attack or assail a person on his property by means of a rabble; to mob → 1644 
► RAG to attack, to cause trouble; to rob → 20C sl.
► RAISE ON to attack, to turn upon in anger → 1828 Sc.
► RAKE to attack verbally, to scold severely → 1907 Amer. dial.
► RALLY to attack vigorously → 1812 boxing sl.
► ROMP ON to attack someone, especially verbally → 1933 Amer. dial.
► RUM-PAD to attack or rob on the highway → L19 cant
► SAIL IN ► SAIL INTO to attack physically or verbally → M19 sl., orig. US
► SAILYIE ► SAILZIE to attack, to assail, to assault → 1827 Sc. arch.
► SANDBAG to lull someone into a false sense of security, and then suddenly attack them → 1940 US sl.
► SAP ► SAP DOWN ► SAP UP to attack using a blackjack (a club) → L19 sl.
► SAULT to attack; to assault → 1387 obs.
► SAVAGE to attack savagely → 1897 Eng. dial.
► SCREAM ON ONE to attack, to give away a secret or to betray the confidence of someone; to tell; to inform → 1960 African-American sl.
► SCRUFF to attack, to manhandle → M19 Aust. sl.
► SET ABOUT to attack or assault someone → 1879 UK colloq.
► SHOOT ON to attack verbally; to belittle; to insult → 1960 African-American
► SIC ON ► SICK ON to have some attack a third party; to set someone on another person → M19 sl.
► SINK THE BOOT ► SINK THE SLIPPER attack verbally; to kick viciously → 1999 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► SKULL to attack someone; to strike someone → 1997 Irish sl.
► SMACK UP to attack someone; to beat someone up → 1945 Aust. sl.
► SMALL-GANG to attack a person together; to mob → 1851 sl.
► SNAP SOMEONE’S HEAD OFF to attack verbally, esp. as a disproportionate response → 1984 UK sl.
► SPELL FOR to wait for, with the intention of attacking verbally or physically → 20C W. Indies sl.
► STURME to overwhelm, as with a storm; to attack with overpowering force → 1275 obs.
► STURT to attack, to trouble, to molest, to disturb → 1513 Sc.
► TACHE to make a hostile attack or charge; to charge → 1400 obs.
► TACK to attack → 1720 
► TACKLE to attack, to punish → 1828 
► TAKE to attack, to confront → 1920 sl.
► TAKE A POKE AT to attack verbally, to cause problems for → 1950 sl.
► TAKE A POP to attack verbally → 1990 sl.
► TAKE A SHIT to attack, to cause trouble for → 1960 sl.
► TAKE A SHOT to attack, whether physically or verbally → L19 sl.
► TAKE LAG to attack verbally, to criticize → 1950 W. Indies & Black British usage
► TAKE OVER THE HURDLES to attack in a group → 1940 US prison sl.
► TAKE SOMEONE TO THE BRIDGE to attack physically or verbally → 1980 African-American sl.
► TAKE SOMEONE TO THE HOOP to attack physically or verbally → 1980 African-American sl.
► TAKE THE PISS OUT OF to attack verbally; to sneer or jeer at → 1930 sl.
► TAKE THE RIP OUT OF to attack verbally, to mock, to criticize → 1990 sl.
► TAKE TO to attack → 1790 Eng. dial.
► TAKE TO SOMEONE to attack someone with the fists → 1911 NZ sl.
► TEAR DOWN to attack verbally; to reprimand severely → L19 sl.
► TEAR INTO to attack physically or verbally → 20C sl.
► TOMAHAWK to attack savagely or mercilessly in speech or in writing; to demolish in a review or criticism → 1815 
► TOWEL UP to attack or thrash, either physically or verbally → 1984 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► VAMP ON to make an unjust attack, to arrest → 1970 African-American sl.
► VEX to engage someone in an abusive verbal attack → 2001 UK sl.
► WALK INTO to attack, to overcome, to demolish → M19  sl.
► WALK ROUND to prepare oneself to face an attack → L19 sl.
► WALTZ INTO to attack → 1910 sl.
► WEIGH INTO to attack, physically or verbally → 1984 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► WHALE to attack verbally, to berate → 1984 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► WHALE AWAY to attack or do something vigorously and persistently → 1897 sl.
► WHALE INTO to attack physically → 20C sl.
► WHIPSAW to attack or operate by letting rival parties attack one another, to the benefit of the more or less passive manipulator → 1873 sl.
► YOKE to attack; to grip, to seize; to tackle; to meddle with; to fight → 1775 Sc.