strike a light

present singular third person strikes a light · participle present striking a light · past struck a light · participle past struck a light · archaic participle past rare stricken a light

1. idiomaticTo create a flame (using a match, flint, etc.).

   1681, Nahum Tate, The History of King Lear, London: E. Flesher, Act 3, p. 36, Look I have Flint and Steel, the Implements Of wandring Lunaticks, I’ll strike a Light, And make a Fire beneath this Shed, to dry Thy Storm-drencht Garments, e’re thou Lie to rest thee;

   3 more examples

   I must quit my subject, though much against my will, for hark, the bell sounds, my candle is burnt out, and I have not so much as a flint to strike a light, so I must go to bed, and there dream or meditate till to-morrow.

   1760, Laurence Sterne, “Meditation on Tobacco”, in Yorick’s Meditations, London: R. Stevens, page 22

   1820, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe, Edinburgh: Archibald Constable, 3rd edition, 1821, Volume 2, Chapter 8, pp. 129-130, While the one struck a light with a flint and steel, the other disposed the charcoal in the large rusty grate which we have already mentioned, and exercised the bellows until the fuel came to a red glow.

   He took a box of matches from the mantelpiece, struck a light and held it to the gas fire.

   1995, Robert Harris, Enigma, New York: Random House, Chapter 1, section 3, p. 19

1. UKdatedinformalExpressing surprise.

   Cor, strike a light! Did you see him jump into the river?