attack

an attack of (some illness)

A sudden or acute onset of (an illness). I went to bed early last night after an attack of indigestion.
See also: attack, of

angle of attack

The position of an airplane as it moves through the air. What is our angle of attack, Captain? Are we going to be able to land this plane as planned?
See also: angle, attack, of

attack is the best form of defense

Launching an offensive is the best way to protect oneself. I need to start some rumors about Dean, before he comes after me. I know it sounds harsh, but attack is the best form of defense!
See also: attack, defense, form, of

Big Mac attack

A craving for a Big Mac sandwich from McDonald's. The phrase gained popularity through its use in commercials. Let's go to McDonald's for dinner—I'm having a real Big Mac attack.
See also: attack, big, mac

bloody nose attack

A pre-emptive military strike intended to accomplish some objective while being limited enough in scope to (ideally) prevent retaliation by target. Sir, I worry that a bloody nose attack will just cause them to attack us more fiercely in return.
See also: attack, bloody, nose

give (one) a heart attack

1. To cause one to experience a sudden disruption in the heart's normal functioning, as due to an obstructed coronary artery. Can his medical condition actually give him a heart attack? I'm worried that the amount of stress she's been under is going to give her a heart attack one of these days.
2. By extension, a particularly frightening, jarring, or anxious experience. The sight of that car coming at me almost gave me a heart attack. Josh just about gave me a heart attack when he jumped out of the closet.
See also: attack, give, heart

have a heart attack

1. To experience a sudden disruption in the heart's normal functioning, as due to an obstructed coronary artery. Dad's had a heart attack—get to the hospital as soon as you can! I'm worried that she's going to have a heart attack from the amount of stress she's been under at work lately.
2. By extension, to have a particularly frightening, jarring, or anxious experience. The sight of that car coming at me almost gave me a heart attack. Josh just about gave me a heart attack when he jumped out of the closet.
See also: attack, have, heart

have a panic attack

1. To have an episode of acute anxiety and fear, marked by such physical symptoms as heart palpitations and hyperventilation. Back when I used to have panic attacks regularly, it got so bad that I was afraid to leave the house.
2. By extension, to have a particularly frightening or jarring experience. I thought I had lost my keys and just about had a panic attack.
See also: attack, have, panic

heart attack

1. A sudden disruption in the heart's normal functioning, as due to an obstructed coronary artery. Dad's heart attack laid him out for nearly a month. We're lucky he survived! I'm worried that she's going to have a heart attack from the amount of stress she's been under at work lately.
2. By extension, a particularly frightening, jarring, or anxious experience. Josh just about gave me a heart attack when he jumped out of the closet. I almost had a heart attack when I saw that car coming at me.
See also: attack, heart

in force

1. Legally enforced; in effect. There was a law like that on the books, but I'm not sure it's still in force.
2. In a large group; at full strength, as of an army. The voters are going to come out against you in force if you don't change your position on this. You better believe the fans will be there in force to support the team at the critical road game.
See also: force

on the attack

Going after an opponent with aggression, forcefulness, and tenacity. England has been on the attack this entire second half, threatening a historic victory against the returning German champions. Often criticized for his calm and noncombative demeanor, the candidate made a point of being on the attack throughout the debate.
See also: attack, on

panic attack

1. An episode of acute anxiety and fear, marked by such physical symptoms as heart palpitations and hyperventilation. My panic attacks got so bad at one point that I was afraid to leave the house.
2. By extension, a particularly frightening, jarring, or anxious experience. I thought I had lost my keys and just about had a panic attack.
See also: attack, panic

phishing attack

An instance of someone stealing, or attempting to steal, personal information from someone else over the phone or on the internet by pretending to be someone or something that legitimately requires such details. We've gotten reports of an increasing number of phishing attacks being made against our customers recently. Remember, we will never ask you for your password under any circumstances, whether on the phone or by email. The use of the so-called dark web makes the culprits behind these phishing attacks nearly impossible to catch.
See also: attack, phish

produce an attack (of some illness)

To trigger a sudden or acute onset of some illness or its symptoms. All of the dust in the air produced an attack of asthma. After living with epilepsy for so long, I've learned to recognize what will produce an attack.
See also: attack, produce

smurf attack

slang A distributed-denial-of-service (DDOS) attack that spoofs an intended victim's source IP and uses it to broadcast large numbers of Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) packets to a large computer network in order to receive an overwhelming number of responses. The company's website has been down for nearly 72 hours after being hit by a smurf attack.
See also: attack, smurf

spoofing attack

The practice of stealing, or attempting to steal, personal information over the phone or on the internet by pretending to be someone or something that legitimately requires such details. We've gotten reports of an increasing number of spoofing attacks being made against our customers recently. Remember, we will never ask you for your password under any circumstances, whether on the phone or by email. The use of the so-called dark web makes the culprits behind these spoofing attacks nearly impossible to catch.
See also: attack, spoof

suffer an attack of (some illness)

To be stricken by a sudden or acute onset of some kind of illness or its symptoms. I went to bed early last night after suffering a severe attack of indigestion. He suffered an asthma attack halfway through the hike.
See also: attack, of, suffer

under attack

In the state of being attacked. Battle stations! We're under attack! I constantly feel like I'm under attack during these meetings, but a lot of these issues don't even relate to my department.
See also: attack
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*an attack

(of an illness) a bout of some sickness; an instance or acute case of some disease. (*Typically: have ~; produce ~; suffer ~.) Mr. Hodder had an attack of stomach upset that forced him to stay at home.
See also: attack

*in force

 
1. [of a rule or law] currently valid or in effect. (*Typically: be ~.) Is this rule in force now? The constitution is still in force.
2. Fig. in a very large group. (*Typically: arrive ~; attack ~.) The entire group arrived in force. The mosquitoes will attack in force this evening.
See also: force

produce an attack

(of an illness) Go to an attack (of an illness).
See also: attack, produce

suffer an attack

 (of an illness)
1. Go to an attack (of an illness).
See also: attack, suffer
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

in force

1. In full strength, in large numbers, as in Demonstrators were out in force. This usage originally alluded to a large military force. [Early 1300s]
2. Operative, binding, as in This rule is no longer in force. This usage originally alluded to the binding power of a law. [Late 1400s]
See also: force
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

in force

in great strength or numbers.
1989 Amy Wilentz The Rainy Season They turned out in force, armed with machetes and cocomacaques.
See also: force
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

Big Mac attack

n. a sudden and desperate need for a Big Mac sandwich, a product of the McDonald’s restaurant chain. (Big Mac is a protected trade name of McDonald’s.) I feel a Big Mac attack coming on!
See also: attack, big, mac
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

in force

1. In full strength; in large numbers: Demonstrators were out in force.
2. In effect; operative: a rule that is no longer in force.
See also: force
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • illness
  • an attack
  • an attack of (some illness)
  • under attack
  • offensive
  • be on the offensive
  • go for the throat
  • within striking distance
  • (with)in striking distance
  • strike at the heart of (something)
References in periodicals archive
"It's no longer a question of if an organization will be the victim of a ransomware attack, but when.
Half Of All Organizations Hit By Ransomware Suffer Multiple Attacks
The financial sector continues to be a constant target for DDoS attacks. In Q1 2017, Verisign's financial sector customers experienced the second highest number of DDoS attacks (28%) of any industry sector within Verisign's customer base (a large increase from only 7% during the prior quarter).
DDoS Attacks Unpredictable, Consistently Target Financial Sector
In March 2013, Spamhaus suffered from the largest DDoS attack to date.
25 years of DDoS
The examination of attack properties without the real execution of DoS attacks can be done using different modelling methods and tools.
Composite DoS attack model/Jungtinis DoS ataku modelis
Attack list: Attackers compile a list of hosts that may have bugs firstly.
Distributed denial of service attack principles and defense mechanisms
"The level of automation in cyber attacks continues to shock us.
Web applications under attack every two minutes
The low cost of DDoS-as-hire makes such attacks one of the most affordable cyberweapons for evil competitors or internet trolls.
A Shift from Quantity to Quality: 2018 Saw Cybercriminals Dropping Basic DDOS Operations
She said Qurium Media Foundation has been mitigating the attacks since Jan.
Sweden-based group fends off cyber-attack vs Bulatlat
The province of Balochistan was hit by eleven suicide attacks last year, in which 212 people were killed, including 24 security forces personnel,12 militants, and 176 civilians, while 332 were injured which includes 49 security forces personnel and 283 civilians.In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 4 suicide attacks caused 38 deaths, in which 12 security forces personnel, 4 militants, and 22 civilians were dead and 91 were among injured, in which 70 civilians and 21 security forces personnel.
Pakistan faces 18 suicide attacks in 2018: PICSS issues report
A study conducted by Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies showed that the security situation significantly improved in the year as the number of attacks, resultant deaths as well as injuries declined by 45pc, 37pc and 49pc, respectively, compared to 2017.
Militant attacks declined by 45pc in 2018
Terrorist attack on civilian and security officials at Chalas, August 2013
Military court trials: 310 terrorists sentenced to death, 56 executed
Attack on Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) office Multan,
Military courts finalize cases of 546 accused terrorists out of 717 since establishment
Terrorist attack on four Special Services Group (SSG) soldiers,including two officers, April 2009 (one terrorist executed).
Army says military courts finalized 546 cases out of 717 since establishment
ISLAMABAD -- At least 63 people were killed and 73 injured in 21 militant attacks in November including attack on Chinese Consulate in Karachi, says Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).
Militant attacks claimed 63 lives in Nov: PICSS