Outflanked: meaning, definitions and examples
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outflanked
[ aʊtˈflæŋkt ]
military strategy
Outflanked refers to the act of moving around the side of an enemy's position to gain a tactical advantage. It is often used in military contexts to describe a maneuver that avoids direct confrontation and instead engages the opponent from a less defended position.
Synonyms
outmaneuvered, outsmarted, surrounded.
Examples of usage
- The general ordered his troops to outflank the enemy forces.
- During the battle, they successfully outflanked the opposition.
- The surprise maneuver allowed them to outflank the entrenched soldiers.
sports tactic
In sports, to outflank an opponent can mean to strategically position oneself in a way that bypasses the opponent's defenses. This tactic is common in games that require spatial awareness and strategy.
Synonyms
bypass, forestall, outmaneuver.
Examples of usage
- He managed to outflank the defender and score a goal.
- The players outflanked their rivals by exploiting their weak side.
- She outflanked her competitor in the final lap.
Translations
Translations of the word "outflanked" in other languages:
🇵🇹 flanqueado
🇮🇳 पार करना
🇩🇪 umgangen
🇮🇩 dikelilingi
🇺🇦 обійти
🇵🇱 obchodzić
🇯🇵 包囲する
🇫🇷 flanqué
🇪🇸 flanqueado
🇹🇷 yanından geçmek
🇰🇷 측면에서 공격하다
🇸🇦 أحاط
🇨🇿 obejít
🇸🇰 obejít
🇨🇳 包围
🇸🇮 obiti
🇮🇸 umflúin
🇰🇿 айналу
🇬🇪 გარშემო
🇦🇿 əhatə etmək
🇲🇽 flanqueado
Etymology
The word 'outflank' originated from the combination of the prefix 'out-', indicating going beyond, and the noun 'flank', which comes from the Old French 'flanc' (meaning side) and from the Latin 'flancus'. The term has been used since at least the mid-19th century within military discourse. Its application in sports and other competitive contexts evolved later, reflecting the strategic maneuvering concept that is pivotal in various forms of competition. The language around warfare and sports often intersects, creating a rich lexical field that denotes strategic advantage through clever positioning and movement.