spear phish

[ speer-fish ]

/ ˈspɪər ˌfɪʃ /

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verb (used without object)

to phish by sending personalized email that appears to be from someone the recipient knows but which is really luring the recipient to open a malicious website: How can we make it harder for them to spear phish?

verb (used with object)

to make (someone) a victim in this way: My name was being used to spear phish my Facebook friends.

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QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"

"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."

Question 1 of 7

IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

have

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Origin of spear phish

First recorded in 2005–10; spear¹ + phish

OTHER WORDS FROM spear phish

spear phish·er, noun

Words nearby spear phish

spear-head spoon, spearing, spearman, Spearman's rank-order coefficient, spearmint, spear phish, spear-phishing, spearpoint, Spears, spear side, spear-thrower

How to use spear phish in a sentence

In some versions of that story, the spear is the first weapon George tries.
How to Save Silent Movies: Inside New Jersey’s Cinema Paradiso|Rich Goldstein|October 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The earliest clear evidence of a human killed by a spear dates to roughly 100,000 years ago.
War! What Is It Good For? A Lot|Nick Romeo|August 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
NFL denies Phish will make a surprise reunion appearance during Bruno Mars halftime show.
Up to a Point: P.J. O’Rourke on SOTU, the Super Bowl and Nukes|P. J. O’Rourke|January 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Phish on Demand: The greatest band now has the greatest music app.
This Week’s Hot Apps: Dec. 13, 2013|Brian Ries|December 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST

And, as we all know, “this ‘war on Christmas’ is the tip of the spear in a larger battle to secularize our culture.”
Sarah Palin Is Here to Save Christmas, Thank God|Candida Moss|November 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
This was no strange sight to the boy by that time, but it was awkward in the circumstances, for he had neither gun nor spear.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
Mafuta immediately rushed at him with a spear, but was caught by the lion on the shoulder, and dragged down.
Hunting the Lions|R.M. Ballantyne
This last spear is propelled by a throwing-stick, which was also found lying by it.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King
There they waited to spear the reindeer, while others hid behind rocks near the entrance to drive the reindeer on.
The Later Cave-Men|Katharine Elizabeth Dopp
When they worked in this way, they had no trouble in striking off flakes for spear points and knives.
The Later Cave-Men|Katharine Elizabeth Dopp