the best defense is a good offense

the best defense is a good offense

proverb Proactively attacking one's opponents or enemies is the best way to protect oneself, since they will be occupied with defending themselves, rather than attacking. They have a lot of scoring power, so we need to attack the goal early and wear them out. The best defense is a good offense, girls.
See also: defense, good, offense
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

best defense is a good offense

Prov. If you attack your opponents, they will be so busy fighting off your attack that they will not be able to attack you. (Often associated with sports. Often pronounced with the accent on the first syllable, similar to offense.) The team mostly practiced offensive moves because the coach believed that the best defense is a good offense. Jim thought that the best defense is a good offense, so he always tried to pass other drivers before they could pass him.
See also: defense, good, offense
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • best defense is a good offense
  • wheel and deal
  • wheel and deal, to
  • wheeled
  • wheeling and dealing
  • wheeler-dealer
  • teach a man to fish
  • village
  • it takes a village
  • an old poacher makes the best gamekeeper
References in periodicals archive
With my apologies to Vince Lombardi, I must dissent from his oft-quoted advice that "the best defense is a good offense." In the civil justice system, the best defense is one that someone else pays for.
Passing the buck: in litigation, the best defense is the one someone else pays for
One example is the shipping container market, where corrugated carton makers have rediscovered the old cliche that the best defense is a good offense. The March issue of Solutions!
Be offensive!
"Because the best defense is a good offense," observed Dowless," we must get the Bible elective course in as many school districts as possible - that way, opponents of the Bible will have too many battles to fight."
Out with the new, in with the old, says court in Fla. bible class case
Coach Carville is of the school that believes the best defense is a good offense, and he blasts away with manic Cajun cheer.
We're Right, They're Wrong