an act or instance of parrying, as in fencing.
a defensive movement in fencing.
Milman, 1902–35, U.S. classical scholar and philologist.
William Edward, 1790–1855, English Arctic explorer.
to ward off (an attack) by blocking or deflecting, as in fencing
(tr) to evade (questions), esp adroitly
an act of parrying, esp (in fencing) using a stroke or circular motion of the blade
a skilful evasion, as of a question
Sir ( Charles ) Hubert ( Hastings ). 1848–1918, English composer, noted esp for his choral works
Sir William Edward. 1790–1855, English arctic explorer, who searched for the Northwest Passage (1819–25) and attempted to reach the North Pole (1827)
1665–75; < French parez, imperative of parer to ward off, set off < Latin parāre to set. See parade
Sword fighters thrust and parry. To thrust is to try to stab, and to parry is to avoid getting stabbed by blocking a thrust. Though it comes from fencing, parry is also handy in dodgeball and awkward conversations The word parry means to block or evade a movement, like in fencing, but it can also refer to an evasion that is verbal rather than physical. If someone asks you who you have a crush on, but you don’t want to answer, parry the question — change the subject or ask a question in return. When used in this way parry retains its sense of defending yourself through evasion.
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Raducanu's first match back under Richardson's guidance ended in a straight-set defeat by France's Diane Parry in Strasbourg last week.
From BBC • May 22, 2026
Raducanu made her return in Strasbourg this week after a two-month absence, losing in straight sets to France's Diane Parry.
From BBC • May 21, 2026
One frame would come to define the tragedy on newspaper front pages around the world, though Parry did not realise it at the time.
From BBC • May 10, 2026
In December 1966, the picture won the British News Photographer of the Year award, but Parry said he put the success of the image down to chance.
From BBC • May 10, 2026
But he felt deeply happy that he had something so important to share with his father, that John Parry and his son Will had each, separately, discovered this extraordinary thing.
From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
