Hit vs That's a strike

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Hit

Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb

That's a strike

InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: HitMost common: Hit
 HitThat's a strike
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/hɪt/","/hɪts/","/ˈhɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/hɪt/","/hɪts/","/ˈhɪtɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //ðæts ə straɪk//🇺🇸 //ðæts ə straɪk//
MeaningTo touch or strike something with force.A strike means hitting something or getting a good result.
ExampleHe decided to hit the ball with the bat.When the bowler knocked down all the pins, the crowd cheered, 'That's a strike!'
RegisterNeutralInformal
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelA2-
Part of speechverb
Collocationshard, repeatedly, directly, want to, be going to, in, on, with, hit somebody over the head, hard, repeatedly, directly, want to, be going to, in, on, with, hit somebody over the head, hard, repeatedly, directly, want to, be going to, in, on, with, hit somebody over the head, hard, repeatedly, directly, want to, be going to, in, on, with, hit somebody over the head, badly, hard, heavilyget a strike, call a strike, that's a strike
Antonymsmiss, avoid, pass-
Common mistakesConfused with 'hit' when referring to success; use 'achieved' instead., Using 'hitted' instead of 'hit' for past tense., 'Hit' can be confused with 'strike' but is more casual.Confusing with 'that's a hit' which is more general., Using 'strike' in a non-sporting context when it's not appropriate., Overusing the expression in non-competitive scenarios.
Usage notesCommonly used in both physical contexts (like hitting a ball) and metaphorical ones (like hitting a deadline). Avoid using it in overly formal contexts.Used in casual conversation, often in sports or games. Not typically used in formal settings.

See it in real clips

Hit
That's a strike

Frequently asked questions: Hit vs That's a strike

What's the difference between Hit and That's a strike?

Hit: To touch or strike something with force. That's a strike: A strike means hitting something or getting a good result.

Which is more formal: Hit and That's a strike?

Hit is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Hit and That's a strike?

Hit is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Hit: He decided to hit the ball with the bat. That's a strike: When the bowler knocked down all the pins, the crowd cheered, 'That's a strike!'

Can I use Hit and That's a strike interchangeably?

Not always. Hit and That's a strike are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

Related comparisons