attacking
attacking — adjective
1. describes the players or style of play that moves forward in a game to try and g
describes the players or style of play that moves forward in a game to try and get points; the opposite of defensive.
The team's attacking style of play led to three goals in the first half.
attacking style of play
Coach Rivera replaced a defender with an attacking midfielder to chase the equaliser.
attacking midfielder
In the second period, the home side showed more attacking intent and pushed forward.
Hiroshi's speed makes him a dangerous attacking threat on the left wing.
- defensive
describes players or tactics that stop the opponent from scoring.
文法句型
attacking + noun
用法筆記
Only used before a noun (attributive position). Not used with verbs like 'be' or 'seem'.
常見錯誤
attacking — verb
1. to use physical force against a person, animal, or place with the aim of hurting
to use physical force against a person, animal, or place with the aim of hurting, damaging, or defeating them.
A stranger attacked Wei outside the train station late at night.
attacked Wei
The wolves will only attack if they feel trapped or threatened.
will only attack if
The rebel group attacked the army base just before dawn.
Amelia heard a noise and turned around, ready to attack if anyone came near.
Security footage showed two men attacking the shopkeeper with a baseball bat.
文法句型
attack + object
attack (no object)
用法筆記
When used transitively, the object is the victim or target. When intransitive, often followed by a reason or condition ('attack if…', 'attack because…').
常見錯誤
2. to express strong, often public disapproval of someone or something, especially
to express strong, often public disapproval of someone or something, especially in politics, the media, or public debate.
Opposition MPs attacked the government for failing to invest in public health.
attacked the government for failing
Several newspapers attacked the mayor's decision to cut library funding.
attacked the mayor's decision
Valentina's essay attacked the idea that working longer hours means higher productivity.
The senator was fiercely attacked by the press after the leaked report came out.
Activists attacked the company over its use of plastic packaging.
文法句型
attack + object + for + noun/gerund
attack + object + over + noun
用法筆記
Common in passive constructions ('be attacked for/by'). The subject is often an institution (newspapers, MPs, campaigners) rather than a single individual.
常見錯誤
3. when a disease, virus, fungus, or harmful substance damages a living thing or pa
when a disease, virus, fungus, or harmful substance damages a living thing or part of it — for example, a virus attacking the lungs, or rust attacking a rose bush.
The virus attacks the respiratory system and can cause severe breathing difficulties.
attacks the respiratory system
This fungus attacks tomato plants and turns the leaves yellow.
attacks tomato plants
Cavities form when acid produced by bacteria attacks the hard surface of a tooth.
The chemotherapy drug attacks cancer cells but also harms healthy ones.
Without treatment, the infection will attack the bones and joints within weeks.
文法句型
attack + object (body part / system / plant)
用法筆記
The subject is typically a disease, chemical, or parasitic organism. The object is the living thing or body part being damaged. Not used for emotional or psychological states.
常見錯誤
4. in a team sport, to move forward as a team in an organised way to try and score
in a team sport, to move forward as a team in an organised way to try and score points or goals.
The home team kept attacking in the final ten minutes but could not find the net.
kept attacking
The coach told the players to attack from the first whistle and not sit back.
Zara received the ball near the halfway line and started to attack toward the goal.
Rather than defending a narrow lead, Kofi urged his teammates to keep attacking.
- press forward
more emphatic; suggests continuous effort to advance.
- push up
informal; describes players moving into advanced positions.
文法句型
attack (no object)
用法筆記
Intransitive only — you do not 'attack the goal' in this sense. Instead say 'attack toward the goal' or simply 'attack' on its own. Compare 'defend' which is also intransitive in the same context.
常見錯誤
5. to start dealing with a task, problem, or project with a lot of energy and enthu
to start dealing with a task, problem, or project with a lot of energy and enthusiasm, determined to finish it quickly.
Lucia attacked the pile of paperwork with surprising energy for a Friday afternoon.
attacked the pile of paperwork
After weeks of delays, the team finally attacked the problem and found a solution.
Mia attacked her revision notes the night before the big exam.
The new manager attacked the company's outdated systems from her first day.
- tackle
slightly less energetic than 'attack'; neutral register.
- throw oneself into
very informal; suggests wholehearted commitment.
- dive into
informal; suggests starting without hesitation.
- avoid
to stay away from a task or problem.
- procrastinate
to delay doing something.
文法句型
attack + object (task / problem / project)
用法筆記
Informal register — use in everyday speech or casual writing, not in formal documents. The object is always a thing (task, problem) not a person.
常見錯誤
attacking — noun
1. an act of violence intended to hurt or damage a person, animal, or place.
an act of violence intended to hurt or damage a person, animal, or place.
The police are investigating a knife attack that happened near the school gates.
knife attack
The army base came under attack from three directions just after midnight.
came under attack
There has been a sharp rise in attacks on elderly people living alone.
The dog launched a sudden attack on the postman who entered the garden.
Jamal was treated in hospital for injuries sustained during the attack.
- defence
the act of protecting against attack.
文法句型
attack on + object
under attack
come under attack
用法筆記
Countable when referring to a specific incident ('a knife attack'). Uncountable in phrases like 'under attack' or 'a form of attack'.
常見錯誤
2. strong words or statements that criticise someone or something, especially in pu
strong words or statements that criticise someone or something, especially in public or in the media.
The minister faced a fierce attack from the opposition over the new tax plan.
fierce attack from the opposition
The company's environmental record came under heavy attack from campaigners.
came under heavy attack
Wei wrote a personal attack on the journalist who had misquoted him.
The senator launched a blistering attack on her rival during the televised debate.
The editorial was a direct attack on the newspaper's own readers.
- criticism
more neutral; 'attack' implies harsher, more aggressive disapproval.
- denunciation
formal; a very strong public condemnation.
文法句型
attack on + object
under attack
come under attack
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 'VIOLENT ACT' — in this figurative sense, the 'attack' is verbal, not physical. Common in political and media contexts.
3. a sudden, short period when a disease or illness affects someone badly, or when
a sudden, short period when a disease or illness affects someone badly, or when someone is overcome by a strong feeling.
Hiroshi had a bad asthma attack and had to use his inhaler immediately.
asthma attack
Layla suffered an attack of malaria while travelling in rural areas.
attack of malaria
An attack of nerves made her hands shake just before the piano recital.
The old man suffered a sudden attack of coughing that lasted several minutes.
The young cyclist was rushed to hospital after a severe allergic attack caused his throat to swell.
文法句型
attack of + illness/emotion
attack of + noun
用法筆記
Often paired with 'have'/'suffer' and followed by 'of' + the condition. Common compound nouns: 'heart attack', 'asthma attack', 'panic attack', 'allergic attack'.
常見錯誤
4. the group of players in a team whose main job is to move forward and try to scor
the group of players in a team whose main job is to move forward and try to score goals or points.
The team's attack looked weak without their star striker who was injured.
attack looked weak
The coach re-organised the attack by moving Jamal to a central position.
The opposition's attack were caught offside four times in the first half.
Valentina leads the attack for the national women's football team.
- offence
American English term for the attacking unit; 'offense' is more common in US sports.
- forward line
more specific; refers to the frontmost players.
- defence
the players whose job is to stop the opponent from scoring.
文法句型
the + attack
用法筆記
Singular collective noun: in British English it can take a plural verb ('the attack were…'). Contrasts with 'defence' (the players who stop goals).
常見錯誤
5. the determination and aggressive effort shown by a player or team when trying to
the determination and aggressive effort shown by a player or team when trying to score, especially in the final stages of a match or race.
The runners showed great attack in the final lap and overtook the leader.
showed great attack
Priya played with real attack throughout the tennis match and won in straight sets.
played with real attack
What the team lacked in skill they made up for in sheer attack and determination.
The chess grandmaster surprised everyone with the attack in her opening moves.
- aggression
stronger and more negative in tone; 'attack' is neutral-positive in sports.
- drive
similar meaning; 'drive' emphasises inner motivation, while 'attack' emphasises outward action.
文法句型
with attack
show attack
用法筆記
Uncountable — you cannot say 'an attack' in this sense. Often collocates with 'show', 'display', 'with', or 'real'. Used in sports commentary, racing, and competitive games.