strike upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "strike upon" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe the moment when someone suddenly discovers or realizes something. Example: "While brainstorming ideas, I struck upon a solution that could save us time and resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

By 6 30 p.m., the cluster of Latin American galleries was definitely the most relaxing and pleasant place to be, as people with tired feet eagerly climbed inside a nylon sculpture by Mr. Neto that looked like a giant tomato and was the size of a small room, with a circular bench surrounding a drum that people were encouraged to strike upon entering.

The New York Times

In a sermon delivered in 1859 at an African Methodist Episcopal church in Pittsburgh, the Rev. J. S. Martin preached about the death of John Brown, proclaiming, It is thought by the slaves... that the meteors from the heavens are sparks that... strike upon the craters of volcanoes, and that is the cause of their eruption.

The New York Times

But his face instantly softens when you strike upon something he finds interesting and provocative, like a challenging interpretation of a lyric, or when you notice an easy-to-miss subtlety about his music, like the amount of time it takes for the drums to arrive on some of his best songs.

The New Yorker

Most notably, Hume maintained that a distinctive feature of the passions and sentiments is that they touch, or strike upon the mind more forcibly than other perceptions.

SEP

However, when the American forces gave chase, they were immediately slowed by an accidental air strike upon them by an American aircraft.

Wikipedia

Strike upon a good night, and a trip to George is among the grandest times you will ever have in your life.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Instead, over a round of drinks with fellow paleontologists, Mr. Longrich struck upon, almost out of thin air, a name that would end up bringing him more publicity than any of his other discoveries: Mojoceratops.

The New York Times - Science

But I struck upon the idea of a different package.

The New Yorker

In 1943 the Nazis struck upon two entwined ideas.

The Guardian - Music

He struck upon an idea to monetize the intense between movies and fashion in Hyderabad.

The New York Times

The decibel of the objections is evidence that he's struck upon truth.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "strike upon" when you want to emphasize the suddenness or unexpected nature of a discovery or realization. It adds a touch of surprise to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "strike upon" to describe a physical impact. It primarily denotes a mental discovery, not a physical action. Use words like "impact" or "hit" for physical events.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "strike upon" is that of a phrasal verb. It functions as a transitive verb when an object follows the preposition "upon", indicating the thing discovered or impacted. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "strike upon" is a phrasal verb used to describe the act of suddenly discovering or realizing something, often unexpectedly. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While "strike upon" is not overly common, it is perfectly acceptable in various contexts, particularly in news and media. Alternatives like "hit upon" and "stumbled upon" offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances. Remember to use "strike upon" to denote mental discovery rather than physical impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hit upon

More casual alternative, implying a chance discovery or idea.

stumbled upon

Suggests an accidental or unexpected discovery.

chanced upon

Similar to stumbled upon, implying an element of luck or serendipity.

came across

Indicates finding something unexpectedly while searching for something else or without searching at all.

discovered

A more general term for finding something, can be intentional or unintentional.

realized

Focuses on the moment of understanding or becoming aware.

conceived of

Emphasizes the mental creation or invention of an idea.

formulated

More formal, suggests a careful and deliberate development of an idea or plan.

encountered

Implies facing or experiencing something, possibly unexpectedly.

uncovered

Suggests revealing something that was previously hidden or unknown.

FAQs

What does "strike upon" mean?

"Strike upon" means to discover or come across something unexpectedly, often an idea or a solution. It implies a sudden realization or finding.

What can I say instead of "strike upon"?

You can use alternatives like "hit upon", "stumbled upon", or "came across" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "strike on" instead of "strike upon"?

While "strike on" can sometimes be used in different contexts (e.g., to strike a match on a surface), it is generally not interchangeable with "strike upon" when referring to discovering an idea or solution.

How to use "strike upon" in a sentence?

Example: "While brainstorming, the team unexpectedly "struck upon" a groundbreaking idea."