A thumping strike is a shot hit with a lot of power, especially one that results in a goal.
What does it mean?
To ‘thump‘ a shot means to hit it hard – we might also hear ‘a thumping header‘ for a powerfully struck header. A thumping strike is a shot that is hit very hard. Separately, ‘to thump‘ a team means to easily and heavily defeat them, similar to ‘to thrash.’
Examples
- It was a thumping strike from outside the box.
- The keeper had no chance – the ball flew past him at real speed.
- ‘The two-man wall inexplicably broke, allowing Pina’s fierce shot to hurtle towards Fernando Muslera.’ (The Guardian)
Similar Words/Phrases
- A fierce shot
- Stunner
- To thrash (a team)
- A screamer
- Hurtle
Learn More
- Listen to our podcast from Day 11 of the 2026 World Cup
- Translate it or use it in a sentence in our forum
- Listen to a podcast on this phrase here from 2024
- Worksheet: Practise your listening here with the phrase ‘thumping strike’.
Related Glossary Terms
Categories: 2026 World Cup Phrases
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