strike a chord
To elicit a significant reaction, especially one which is favorable or sympathetic.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Her story really strikes a chord with me.”
“The politician's speech about helping families struck a chord with the voters in the room.”
“The author's poignant description of loss struck a chord with readers who had experienced similar grief.”
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lightning strike
A (sometimes unofficial) strike by workers with little or no warning.
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on strike
Withholding labor as a protest, in order to effect change in management or government.
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strike a blow
To hit; to successfully land a hit.
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strike a false note
To give the impression of being insincere, incongruous or inappropriate.
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strike a light
To create a flame (using a match, flint, etc.).
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strike it lucky
To have unexpected good fortune.
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strike it rich
To become rich suddenly and unexpectedly.
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strike oil
To have sudden good fortune, especially financially.
Last updated August 10, 2026