# hit someone for six

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hit-someone-for-six
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To affect in a devastating way by some unexpected news.

## Examples

- The sudden news hit him for six.
- The high cost of the car repairs hits you for six.
- When she heard the company was closing, the news hit her for six.
- Finding out that my best friend was moving to another country really hit me for six because we had plans to start a business together.
- Even though he practiced hard, failing the final exam hit him for six and made him question his choice of career.
- The unexpected announcement of his resignation hit the entire department for six, leaving everyone stunned and uncertain about the future.

## Origin

The phrase originates in the sport of cricket, where it describes the act of striking the ball cleanly over the boundary without it first touching the ground. Such a stroke results in the award of six runs, the highest score achievable from a single delivery. The idiom has since transitioned from the pitch to general usage, retaining the sense of a sudden and decisive impact that leaves the recipient entirely unable to offer a response.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.