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Phrasal verbs "hit back" vs "hit with"

Differences between hit back and hit with

Hit back means to retaliate or respond to an attack or criticism, while hit with means to be affected by something negative, such as a problem or a punishment.

Meanings and Definitions: hit back vs hit with

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Hit back

  • 1Attack or criticise.

    The president HIT BACK at her critics in a speech last night.

Hit with

  • 1Surprise someone with some information or news.

    He HIT me WITH the details of their demands.

Usage Examples: hit back, hit with in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

hit back

Example

She hit back at her critics during the interview.

Example

He hits back at the negative comments on social media.

hit with

Example

She hit him with the news that she was pregnant.

Example

He hits her with the news of his promotion.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Hit back

retaliate

To respond to an attack or criticism with a counterattack or criticism.

Example

After being insulted, he decided to retaliate and insulted the person back.

fight back

To resist or defend oneself against an attack or criticism.

Example

She decided to fight back against the bullies who were harassing her at school.

respond in kind

To respond to an action or behavior with a similar action or behavior.

Example

When someone does something nice for you, it's important to respond in kind and do something nice for them in return.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Hit with

be afflicted by

To be affected by a problem or illness.

Example

He was afflicted by a rare disease that made it difficult for him to walk.

suffer from

To experience pain or difficulty due to a problem or illness.

Example

She suffers from migraines and often has to take medication to manage the pain.

bear the brunt of

To experience the worst effects of something negative.

Example

The employees bore the brunt of the company's financial losses and had to take pay cuts and work longer hours.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Differences in hit back vs hit with: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: hit back or hit with?

In daily conversation, people use hit with more often than hit back. This is because hit with can be used in a wider range of situations, while hit back is more specific to situations where someone is being attacked or criticized. However, both phrases are commonly used in everyday conversation.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of hit back and hit with

Hit back and hit with are informal phrases often used in casual conversations. They are suitable for everyday interactions with friends and family. In more formal settings like business or academic contexts, using alternative expressions can convey a more polished tone.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of hit back and hit with

The tone of hit back and hit with can differ based on context. Hit back often carries a defensive or aggressive tone when related to responding to an attack or criticism, while hit with typically has a negative or unfortunate tone, especially when referring to being affected by a problem or punishment.

hit back & hit with: Synonyms and Antonyms

Hit with

Antonyms

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