VocabDictionary

take a hit

/teษชk ษ™ hษชt/intermediate Level

English Meaning & Definitions

1.idiom

To suffer damage, loss, or a negative impact, especially regarding finances, reputation, or morale.

Example Sentences:
  • โ€œOur retirement portfolio took a hit when the stock market crashed last week.โ€
  • โ€œThe company's reputation took a major hit after the data breach scandal.โ€
2.idiom

To inhale smoke or vapor from a cigarette, cigar, pipe, or electronic cigarette.

Example Sentences:
  • โ€œHe stepped outside onto the porch to take a hit from his vape.โ€
  • โ€œShe passed the joint after taking a hit.โ€
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English Synonyms & Near Equivalents

English Antonyms & Opposites

Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown

Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for โ€œtake a hitโ€.

Thesaurus Entry
Cultural Origin & Etymology

Originating as an American idiom, the phrase combines the literal sense of 'taking a blow' or being struck (dating back to mid-20th-century boxing and combat sports) with metaphorical extensions into finance, popularity, and substance use (inhaling from a cigarette, pipe, or vape, which gained currency in mid-20th-century jazz and counterculture slang).

Memory Aid & Mnemonic

Picture a boxer in a ring taking a strong punch to the faceโ€”they just took a hit, much like a business taking a financial loss.

Frequently Asked Questions About โ€œtake a hitโ€

1. What is the meaning of โ€œtake a hitโ€ in English?

In English, take a hit (idiom) is defined as: โ€œTo suffer damage, loss, or a negative impact, especially regarding finances, reputation, or morale.โ€.

2. How do you use โ€œtake a hitโ€ in a sentence?

โ€œOur retirement portfolio took a hit when the stock market crashed last week.โ€

3. What are English synonyms of โ€œtake a hitโ€?

4. What is the etymology and word origin of โ€œtake a hitโ€?

Originating as an American idiom, the phrase combines the literal sense of 'taking a blow' or being struck (dating back to mid-20th-century boxing and combat sports) with metaphorical extensions into finance, popularity, and substance use (inhaling from a cigarette, pipe, or vape, which gained currency in mid-20th-century jazz and counterculture slang).