South Korea's Kim Ha Na plays a shot during the women's double badminton match during the London 2012 Olympic Games. Photo: Adek Berry.
Today's Phrase
If you hit out at someone or something, you make a verbal attack on them.
For example:
The MP hit out at the journalists who criticised the government's policy.
My friend hit out at everyone when she discovered she wasn't invited to the party.
The singer used her website to hit out at fans who had leaked her album early.
Don't confuse it with
If you hit back at someone, you retaliate.
For example:
The president hit back at the opposition's criticism of the budget by announcing that 10,000 new jobs would be created.
Interesting fact
The Badminton World Federation has disqualified eight female Olympic doubles players for not using their "best efforts to win the match." The players appeared to try to lose the game in order to get an easier draw in the next round. The longest rally in the match between China and South Korea lasted four shots.
