Usage pattern:
[place] is under siege
The city was under siege for six months before it finally fell.
A város hat hónapig ostrom alatt állt, mielőtt végül elesett.
The rebels laid siege to the capital.
A lázadók ostrom alá vették a fővárost.
During the siege, food became extremely scarce.
The army broke the siege after reinforcements arrived.
The medieval castle was built to withstand long sieges.
Learner examples
The army put the city under siege.
A hadsereg ostrom alá vette a várost.
The castle was under siege for many days.
A vár sok napig ostrom alatt állt.
They could not get food because of the siege.
The king's soldiers ended the siege.
Many people were hungry during the siege.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'siege' with 'seat' due to similar pronunciation, but 'siege' relates to military action.
Meaning
Military blockade of a place
Collocations
lay siege
|under siege
|siege warfare
|break the siege
|end the siege
Synonyms
blockade (Often used for cutting off access to a port or area; can be non-military.)
Antonyms
relief (In military terms, the act of ending a siege by sending help to those besieged.)
Themes
war
|history
|military
|law
|politics
Definition
When an army surrounds a place and stops food and other supplies from going in, to make the people inside give up.
A military operation in which enemy forces surround a town, building, or other place, cutting off essential supplies, with the aim of forcing those inside to surrender.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is under siege
The politician has been under siege from the press over the scandal.
A politikus a botrány miatt a sajtó össztüzében áll.
The company is under siege from competitors offering lower prices.
A vállalat nagy nyomás alatt van az alacsonyabb árakat kínáló versenytársak miatt.
After the incident, she felt under siege from her critics.
The mayor faced a media siege after the controversial decision.
Learner examples
The school was under siege from angry parents.
Az iskola dühös szülők ostroma alatt állt.
He felt under siege at work.
Úgy érezte, hogy a munkahelyén minden oldalról támadják.
The company is under siege from new rivals.
She was under siege from reporters.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this sense always refers to war; in fact, it is often used metaphorically for ongoing problems or criticism.
Meaning
Prolonged attack or pressure
Collocations
media siege
|political siege
|under siege
|siege mentality
Synonyms
harassment (Focuses more on repeated annoyance or aggression; not necessarily as intense or organized.)
Antonyms
support (Represents the opposite situation of receiving help instead of attack or criticism.)
Themes
media
|politics
|life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A long time when someone or something has many problems or is attacked again and again.
A sustained period during which someone or something is persistently attacked, criticized, or faced with difficulties.
