strikes while the iron is hot

A form of strike while the iron is hot — To strike a hot piece of metal, especially iron, with a mallet or other tool before it cools, while it is still hot enough to be shaped.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

verb
  1. indicativepresentsingularthird personthird-person singular simple present indicative of strike while the iron is hot
Cite this entry
APA

strikes while the iron is hot. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/strikes%20while%20the%20iron%20is%20hot

MLA

“strikes while the iron is hot.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/strikes%20while%20the%20iron%20is%20hot. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “strikes while the iron is hot,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/strikes%20while%20the%20iron%20is%20hot.

Source: strikes while the iron is hot on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.