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Phrasal verbs "hit out at" vs "hit upon"

Differences between hit out at and hit upon

Hit out at means to criticize or attack someone verbally, while hit upon means to discover or come up with something by chance.

Meanings and Definitions: hit out at vs hit upon

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Hit out at

  • 1Respond angrily to criticism.

    The government HIT OUT AT the media for their negativity.

Hit upon

  • 1Have an idea.

    It took us ages to HIT UPON a solution.

  • 2Try to attract someone sexually.

    He tried to HIT UPON her at the pub.

Usage Examples: hit out at, hit upon in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

hit out at

Example

The politician hit out at the reporter for asking a controversial question.

Example

She hits out at anyone who questions her decisions.

hit upon

Example

She hit upon a great idea for her new business.

Example

He hits upon a solution to the problem after hours of brainstorming.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Hit out at

lash out at

To suddenly and angrily criticize or attack someone verbally.

Example

He lashed out at his colleague for not completing the project on time.

take a swipe at

To make a critical or sarcastic remark about someone or something.

Example

She took a swipe at her ex-boyfriend during the party, making everyone feel uncomfortable.

call out

To publicly criticize or challenge someone's behavior or actions.

Example

The teacher called out the student for cheating on the exam in front of the whole class.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Hit upon

stumble upon

To discover or find something by accident or chance.

Example

While hiking in the mountains, they stumbled upon an abandoned cabin and decided to explore it.

chance upon

To discover or encounter something unexpectedly or accidentally.

Example

She chanced upon a rare book at the flea market and bought it immediately.

come across

To find or encounter something by chance or accident.

Example

He came across an old photo album while cleaning his attic and spent the whole afternoon looking at it.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “out at”

Differences in hit out at vs hit upon: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: hit out at or hit upon?

In daily conversation, people use hit out at more often than hit upon. This is because hit out at is used for expressing anger or frustration towards someone, which is a common occurrence in everyday life. Hit upon is not used as much, but it is still a useful phrase to know.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of hit out at and hit upon

Hit out at and hit upon 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 out at and hit upon

The tone of hit out at and hit upon can differ based on context. Hit out at often carries a negative or aggressive tone when criticizing someone, while hit upon typically has a positive or excited tone, especially when referring to discovering something unexpected.

hit out at & hit upon: Synonyms and Antonyms

Hit upon

Synonyms

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