Meanings
present singular third person hits someone for six · participle present hitting someone for six · alternative knock someone for six
- idiomaticinformalTo affect in a devastating way by some unexpected news.
When I heard about the accident, it hit me for six.
- idiomaticinformalTo hit another person very hard.
When he swore at me again, I couldn't hold back. So, I hit him for six.
Origin
From cricket, where hitting the ball over the boundary without it bouncing scores six runs, the maximum for one shot.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish järkyttää, musertaa
- järkyttääaffect in a devastating way (by unexpected news)
- musertaaaffect in a devastating way (by unexpected news)
French dévaster, anéantir
- dévasteraffect in a devastating way (by unexpected news)
- anéantiraffect in a devastating way (by unexpected news)
Polish szokować, zaszokować
- szokowaćaffect in a devastating way (by unexpected news)
- zaszokowaćaffect in a devastating way (by unexpected news)
Portuguese jogar um balde de água fria
- jogar um balde de água friaaffect in a devastating way (by unexpected news)
Russian ошеломи́ть, привести́ в кра́йнее изумле́ние
- ошеломи́ть (ošelomítʹ)affect in a devastating way (by unexpected news)
- привести́ в кра́йнее изумле́ние (privestí v krájneje izumlénije)affect in a devastating way (by unexpected news)
Cite this entry
hit someone for six. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hit%20someone%20for%20six
“hit someone for six.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hit%20someone%20for%20six. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hit someone for six,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hit%20someone%20for%20six.
Source: hit someone for six on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.