Meaning & use
attacks from all sides
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Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
Physical or verbal attacks coming from many different directions or sources at the same time.
Grammar: Often used with verbs like 'face', 'suffer', or 'be subjected to': The army faced attacks from all sides.
Patterns
- face attacks from all sides
- suffer attacks from all sides
- be subjected to attacks from all sides
The small unit was surrounded and faced attacks from all sides.
After the article was published, the journalist suffered attacks from all sides on social media.
Common combinations
- face attacks from all sides
- The new startup faced attacks from all sides, including from its own investors.
- suffer attacks from all sides
- The prime minister suffered attacks from all sides during the debate.
- attacks from all sides
- The castle was built to withstand attacks from all sides.
Synonyms and how they differ
- attacks on all sides
- Similar, but 'on' often suggests criticism rather than physical attack.
Commonly confused: attacks from all sides or attack on all sides?
attacks from all sides vs attack on all sides
That phrase usually means being criticized by many people, while 'attacks from all sides' often means physical attacks from different directions.
Practice
The soldiers were surrounded and came under ______.
Choose one answer.
'Attacks from all sides' is the correct phrase for physical attacks coming from different directions. 'Attacks on all sides' would mean criticism from many people.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “attacks from all sides”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.