onslaught, charge.
aggression, offense; incursion, inroad, invasion; irruption;
outbreak; estrapade†, ruade†; coupe de main, sally, sortie, camisade†,
raid, foray; run at, run against; dead set at.
storm, storming; boarding, escalade†; siege, investment,
obsession†, bombardment, cannonade.
fire, volley; platoon fire, file fire; fusillade; sharpshooting,
broadside; raking fire, cross fire; volley of grapeshot, whiff of the
grape, feu d'enfer [Fr.].
cut, thrust, lunge, pass, passado†, carte and tierce [Fr.], home
thrust; coupe de bec [Fr.]; kick, punch &c (impulse) 276.
battue†, razzia†, Jacquerie, dragonnade†; devastation &c 162;
eboulement [Fr.].
assailant, aggressor, invader.
base of operations, point of attack; echelon.
V. attack, assault, assail; invade; set upon, fall upon; charge,
impugn, break a lance with, enter the lists.
assume the offensive, take the offensive; be the aggressor, become
the aggressor; strike the first blow, draw first blood, throw the first
stone at; lift a hand against, draw the sword against; take up the
cudgels; advance against, march against; march upon, harry; come on,
show fight.
strike at, poke at, thrust at; aim a blow at, deal a blow at; give
one a blow, fetch one a blow, fetch one a kick, give one a kick; have a
cut at, have a shot at, take a cut at, take a shot at, have a fling at,
have a shy at; be down upon, pounce upon; fall foul of, pitch into,
launch out against; bait, slap on the face; make a thrust at, make a
pass at, make a set at, make a dead set at; bear down upon.
close with, come to close quarters; bring to bay.
ride full tilt against; attack tooth and nail, go at hammer and
tongs.
let fly at, dash at, run a tilt at, rush at, tilt at, run at, fly
at, hawk at, have at, let out at; make a dash, make a rush at; strike
home; drive one hard; press one hard; be hard upon, run down, strike at
the root of.
lay about one, run amuck.
aim at, draw a bead on [U.S.].
fire upon, fire at, fire a shot at; shoot at, pop at, level at,
let off a gun at; open fire, pepper, bombard, shell, pour a broadside
into; fire a volley, fire red-hot shot; spring a mine.
throw a stone, throw stones at; stone, lapidate†, pelt; hurl at,
hurl against, hurl at the head of; rock beset [U.S.], besiege,
beleaguer; lay siege to, invest, open the trenches, plant a battery,
sap, mine; storm, board, scale the walls.
cut and thrust, bayonet, butt; kick, strike &c (impulse) 276; whip
&c (punish) 972.
[attack verbally] assail, impugn; malign (detract) 934.
bomb, rocket, blast.
Adj. attacking &c v.; aggressive, offensive, obsidional†.
up in arms.
Adv. on the offensive.
Int. up and at them!
Phr. the din of arms, the yell of savage rage, the shriek of agony, the
groan of death [Southey]; their fatal hands no second stroke intend
[Paradise Lost]; thirst for glory quells the love of life [Addison].