blitz
/blɪts/ (bre, ipa) · [blˈɪts] /blɪts/ (ame, ipa) · [blˈɪts] /ˈblits How to pronounce blitz (audio)/ (ame, mw)
blitz — noun
- blitzsingular
- blitzesplural
1. a sudden bombing attack in which planes hit a town or area over a short time.
a sudden bombing attack in which planes hit a town or area over a short time.
Residents ran to the shelter when the midnight blitz shook the harbour district.
the midnight blitz shook + place
Newsreels showed the blitz that left whole streets burning by dawn.
the blitz that left + damage
The museum displayed letters written during a blitz on the eastern docks.
After the first blitz, nurses treated families in the station tunnels.
- air raid
the most direct neutral term for an attack from the air
- bombing raid
stresses the bombing mission rather than the sudden impact
- ceasefire
a pause in fighting instead of a sudden attack
文法句型
a blitz on + place
during a blitz
用法筆記
Usually refers to a short, concentrated air attack rather than a long campaign. Distinguish from sense 5, which names the specific bombing period in Britain during the Second World War.
2. a defensive rush where extra players charge the quarterback before he can throw.
a defensive rush where extra players charge the quarterback before he can throw.
The rookie never saw the blitz, and the linebacker hit him hard.
see the blitz
On third down, the defence called a blitz from the left side.
call a blitz
A safety timed the blitz perfectly and forced the ball loose.
The coach sent a late blitz after spotting the quarterback's tired footwork.
- pass rush
broader term that includes ordinary pressure, not only a designed extra rush
- pressure package
coaching term for a planned defensive pressure call
- coverage shell
focuses on holding back defenders in coverage instead of sending them
文法句型
call a blitz
send a blitz from + side
用法筆記
Used in American football for a planned pressure move by the defence. It is about attacking the passer, not about a general fast play somewhere else on the field.
3. a burst of organized, high-speed effort aimed at finishing something or getting
a burst of organized, high-speed effort aimed at finishing something or getting quick results.
The charity launched a weekend blitz to collect coats before winter.
launch a blitz to + verb
Store staff worked through lunch during the holiday sales blitz.
during the sales blitz
Our class made a final revision blitz before the chemistry exam.
City workers began a blitz on illegal posters around the station.
- slow build
develops gradually instead of through concentrated effort
文法句型
a blitz on + problem
launch a blitz to + verb
用法筆記
Common for short campaigns in work, study, sales, cleaning, or publicity. It suggests concentrated effort over a limited period, not a long steady programme.
4. the stage in a chess match where both sides play almost instantly because their
the stage in a chess match where both sides play almost instantly because their clocks are nearly empty.
In the blitz, Mei forgot her plan and pushed the wrong pawn.
in the blitz
Spectators stayed silent as the players entered a tense blitz.
enter a tense blitz
Arun's winning position disappeared in the blitz after two rushed moves.
A single clock tap decided the blitz before either player noticed.
- time scramble
plain descriptive term for the same clock pressure
- quiet position
a calm phase where players still have time to think
文法句型
in the blitz
enter a blitz
用法筆記
Used in chess for a clock-driven scramble at the end of play. The key idea is severe time pressure rather than general excitement.
5. the period of German air raids against British cities in the early years of the
the period of German air raids against British cities in the early years of the Second World War.
Her grandmother kept a diary throughout the Blitz in East London.
throughout the Blitz
The film follows children evacuated from Liverpool during the Blitz.
during the Blitz
Photos from the Blitz show churches roofless after nights of fire.
Older neighbours still recall the sirens that marked the Blitz.
- the London Blitz
narrower phrase focusing on the bombing of London
文法句型
during the Blitz
throughout the Blitz
用法筆記
Written with a capital letter when it refers to this specific historical period. Distinguish from sense 1, which can describe any short air attack.
blitz — verb
- blitzpresent simple I / you / we / they
- blitzes3rd person singular
- blitzing-ing form
- blitzedpast simple
1. to hit a place with a sudden series of bombs, especially from the air.
to hit a place with a sudden series of bombs, especially from the air.
Enemy planes blitzed the port before sunrise and knocked out the power.
blitz + place
The army feared the capital would be blitzed again that night.
be blitzed
War reports said the factories were blitzed for three straight evenings.
Pilots blitzed the bridge to slow the tanks crossing the valley.
- spare
leave a place untouched instead of attacking it
文法句型
blitz + place
be blitzed
用法筆記
Usually takes a place or structure as its object and often appears in the passive. It belongs mainly to military or historical writing.
2. to send defenders hard at the quarterback instead of giving him time to throw.
to send defenders hard at the quarterback instead of giving him time to throw.
The defence blitzed the quarterback and forced a hurried throw.
blitz + the quarterback
On the final play, Chicago blitzed and left one receiver uncovered.
blitz intransitively
Our defence blitzed from the edge after the tackle drifted inside.
The safety blitzed late and reached the pocket untouched.
- drop back
stay in coverage instead of attacking the passer
文法句型
blitz from + side
blitz + the quarterback
用法筆記
Can be used either with an object such as 'the quarterback' or without one when the football context is already clear. It specifically means pressure from the defence, not any fast movement.
3. to break food into a smooth or fine mixture with a blender or similar machine.
to break food into a smooth or fine mixture with a blender or similar machine.
Caio blitzed the tomatoes with garlic until the soup looked smooth.
blitz + food with + ingredient
Blitz the chickpeas for thirty seconds, then add lemon juice.
recipe imperative: blitz + food
The cook blitzed stale bread into crumbs for the fish cakes.
Aaron blitzed the berries and yogurt to make a quick drink.
- slice
cut into pieces instead of reducing to a smooth or fine texture
文法句型
blitz + food
blitz + food + into + result
用法筆記
Especially common in British recipe language. The result is usually a puree, sauce, crumbs, or another finer texture.
4. to send, play, or show something again and again in a short stretch of time.
to send, play, or show something again and again in a short stretch of time.
After the leak, reporters blitzed the mayor with calls all afternoon.
blitz + person with + messages
Fans blitzed the singer's page with heart emojis after the concert.
blitz + page with + posts
The station blitzed that safety ad during every break in June.
Theo blitzed the group chat with photos from the mountain trail.
- space out
send or show something with gaps between each time
文法句型
blitz + person + with + messages
blitz + platform + with + content
用法筆記
Usually suggests so much repeated contact or exposure that it feels overwhelming. It often appears with 'with' plus calls, emails, adverts, or posts.
5. to beat a person or team by a large margin with very little trouble.
to beat a person or team by a large margin with very little trouble.
Our table tennis team blitzed the visitors in three straight games.
blitz + opponent
Lena blitzed her opponent 6-0 before the lunch break.
blitz + score
The champions blitzed a tired side and sealed the cup early.
Imani blitzed the field in the first heat and never looked back.
- edge past
win only narrowly instead of by a huge margin
文法句型
blitz + opponent
blitz + team + score
用法筆記
Very common in sports reporting and casual speech when one side wins so comfortably that the result seems one-sided from early on.
6. to attack an overdue job with intense energy so it gets cleaned up or finished f
to attack an overdue job with intense energy so it gets cleaned up or finished fast.
We blitzed the kitchen before Grandma arrived for dinner.
blitz + place before + event
The staff blitzed the storeroom and finally cleared the broken chairs.
blitz + messy place
Dario blitzed his revision all weekend before Monday's test.
Residents blitzed the playground after the storm scattered branches everywhere.
- power through
focuses on determined effort until the job is done
- tackle
more neutral and does not itself suggest intense speed
- put off
delay the job instead of dealing with it quickly
文法句型
blitz + task/place
blitz + work + before + event
用法筆記
Often used for cleaning, studying, sorting, or other jobs people push through quickly with intense effort. It highlights speed and energy more than perfect care.