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Meaning & use

mock attack

noun·Advanced

Last updated

UK/ˌmɒk əˈtæk/
US/ˌmɑːk əˈtæk/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A practice or pretend attack carried out for training, testing, or deception, not a real assault.

    Grammar: Countable: a mock attack, several mock attacks. Often used with verbs like stage, launch, or carry out.

    Patterns

    • stage a mock attack
    • carry out a mock attack
    • a mock attack on something

    The soldiers staged a mock attack on the village to practice their tactics.

    Police carried out a mock attack on the building to test security.

    The training included a mock attack at night.

  2. nouncountablefigurative

    A false or exaggerated criticism made to test someone's reaction or to gain an advantage.

    Grammar: Countable and often used in political or media contexts: a mock attack on someone.

    Patterns

    • a mock attack on someone
    • launch a mock attack

    The newspaper's mock attack on the mayor was designed to see how he would respond.

    Her mock attack on the proposal was really a way to start a debate.

Word forms

pluralmock attacks

Common combinations

stage a mock attack
The troops staged a mock attack to prepare for the exercise.
carry out a mock attack
The security team carried out a mock attack on the airport.
a mock attack on a building
A mock attack on the embassy tested the guards' response.
a mock attack drill
The school held a mock attack drill to practice emergency procedures.

Synonyms and how they differ

simulated attack
More formal and technical; it emphasizes that the attack is a simulation, often using computers or models.
drill
A practice exercise for an emergency; a mock attack is one specific kind of drill.
feint
A deceptive movement in sports or war; a mock attack can be a feint, but a feint is usually part of a real contest.

Opposites

real attack

Word family

mock adjective
Not real; done for practice or as a joke, as in a mock exam.
mock verb
To make fun of someone or something in an unkind way.

Commonly confused: mock attack or mugging?

mock attack vs mugging

A real robbery in the street; a mock attack is only a practice or pretend one.

Practice

The army ______ a mock attack on the enemy camp to test its new strategy.

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