blitz
[blits]
- Military.
- an overwhelming all-out attack, especially a swift ground attack using armored units and air support.
- an intensive aerial bombing.
- any swift, vigorous attack, barrage, or defeat: a blitz of commercials every few minutes.
- Football. act or instance of charging directly for (the passer) as soon as the ball is snapped; red-dogging.
- bingo.
- to attack or defeat with or as if with a blitz: The town was blitzed mercilessly by enemy planes. The visitors really blitzed the home team.
- to destroy; demolish: His last-minute refusal blitzed all our plans.
- Football. to charge directly and immediately at the passer; red-dog.
- to move in the manner of a blitz: a car that will blitz through rough terrain.
Origin of blitz
First recorded in 1935–40; shortening of blitzkrieg
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for blitz
Contemporary Examples
It reminds me of an uncle of mine who said the London Blitz was irritating.
That fall, soon after the German blitz on London began, Kennedy headed back to the U.S.
I collected bits of them, but my blitz was safely vicarious.
Life Under Air Strikes: Children Under Fire Will Never Forget — or ForgiveClive Irving
August 3, 2014
In one ad blitz, former employees at a closed steel mill call Romney and Bain job destroyers and economic vampires.
The Blitz begins Monday at 11 p.m. EST with J. Cole in Queens.
Historical Examples
Remember how we used to mix it with them Jerry bandits tryin' to blitz London?
A Yankee Flier Over BerlinAl Avery
No transport could get nearer than where the Blitz is lying, four miles out.'
The Riddle of the SandsErskine Childers
Blitz—for Blitz it was—whined his receipt for the red token, backed from the aperture, and padded away like the wind.
Our Young Aeroplane Scouts in GermanyHorace Porter
His news was that the Blitz's steam-cutter had come in on the morning tide, and he had met von Brning when marketing at the inn.
The Riddle of the SandsErskine Childers
The hull of the Blitz loomed up, and a minute later our kedge was splashing overboard and the launch was backing alongside.
The Riddle of the SandsErskine Childers
blitz
- a violent and sustained attack, esp with intensive aerial bombardment
- any sudden intensive attack or concerted effortan advertising blitz; a drink-driving blitz
- American football a defensive charge on the quarterback
- (tr) to attack suddenly and intensively
Word Origin
C20: shortened from German Blitzkrieg lightning war
Blitz
- the Blitz the systematic night-time bombing of Britain in 1940–41 by the German Luftwaffe
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for blitz
n.
"sudden overwhelming attack," 1940, shortening of blitzkrieg (1939). The use in U.S. football is from 1959. As a verb, 1940, from the noun. Related: Blitzed; blitzing.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper