a blitz

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A sudden, intense military attack, especially from the air.

   Grammar: Often used with 'launch' or 'carry out': 'They launched a blitz on the city.'

   Patterns

   • a blitz on something
   • launch a blitz
   • an aerial blitz

   The city suffered a heavy blitz during the war.

   The air force launched a blitz on enemy bases.

   The history book describes the blitz that destroyed the harbor.

2. 2nouncountableinformal

   A concentrated, energetic effort to do something quickly.

   Grammar: Often used in business or media: 'a media blitz', 'an advertising blitz'.

   Patterns

   • a media blitz
   • an advertising blitz
   • a blitz of something

   The company did a media blitz to promote its new phone.

   The charity organized a blitz to clean up the park in one day.

   There was a blitz of interviews before the election.

3. 3nouncountablesport

   In American football, a sudden charge by defenders toward the quarterback.

   Grammar: Used in sports reports: 'The team called a blitz on third down.'

   Patterns

   • call a blitz
   • run a blitz
   • a blitz on the quarterback

   The coach called a blitz to pressure the quarterback.

   Their defense used a blitz on almost every play.

   The blitz failed, and the quarterback threw a touchdown.

Word forms

Common combinations

media blitz

The star went on a media blitz to promote her movie.

advertising blitz

The advertising blitz cost millions.

blitz campaign

They ran a blitz campaign to sign up new members.

blitz on something

The police launched a blitz on speeding.

Synonyms and how they differ

raid

A raid is a sudden attack, often by ground forces; a blitz is usually from the air or a concentrated effort.

offensive

An offensive is a large-scale military operation; a blitz is shorter and more intense.

Word family

blitzkrieg noun

A rapid, overwhelming military attack, originally a German strategy.

Commonly confused: a blitz or blitzkrieg?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “a blitz”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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