Collocations for stroke - noun
1. of a brush, pen, etc.
ADJ.
long, short | broad, thick | narrow, thin | bold, vigorous
She caught his likeness with a few bold brush strokes.
She caught his likeness with a few bold brush strokes.
even | quick, slow | downward, upward | brush, pen, pencil
PHRASES
with a stroke of the pen
With a stroke of the pen our names were removed from the register.
With a stroke of the pen our names were removed from the register.
2. in sport
ADJ.
fast, slow | powerful
The Romanian rowers pulled ahead with fast, powerful strokes.
The Romanian rowers pulled ahead with fast, powerful strokes.
backhand, forehand (in tennis, etc.)
VERB + STROKE
play
He played some powerful backhand strokes throughout the game.
He played some powerful backhand strokes throughout the game.
PREP.
by a, two, etc. ~ (in golf)
Woods leads by two strokes.
Woods leads by two strokes.
PHRASES
a/two, etc. strokes ahead/behind (in golf)
3. in swimming
ADJ.
long, short
He swam back with long slow strokes.
He swam back with long slow strokes.
fast, slow | back (also ‘backstroke’), breast (also ‘breaststroke’)
VERB + STROKE
do, swim
You can''t swim more than four strokes before you reach the other side.
You can''t swim more than four strokes before you reach the other side.
4. sudden illness of the brain
ADJ.
crippling, massive, serious | minor, slight | fatal
VERB + STROKE
have, suffer
She had a massive stroke and lost her speech.
She had a massive stroke and lost her speech.
STROKE + VERB
leave sb …
The stroke left him paralysed down his right side.
The stroke left him paralysed down his right side.
STROKE + NOUN
patient, victim
5. sth that happens unexpectedly
ADJ.
sudden
I had a sudden stroke of inspiration.
I had a sudden stroke of inspiration.
VERB + STROKE
have
PREP.
at a/one ~
They lost half their fortune at a stroke.
They lost half their fortune at a stroke.
~ of
a stroke of genius
a stroke of genius
PHRASES
a stroke of (good/bad) luck, a stroke of (good) fortune