pounce /paʊns/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Origin: pounce 'claw' (15-19 centuries) , probably from puncheon 'pointed weapon' (14-20 centuries) , from Old French poinchon ]
to suddenly move forward and attack someone or something, after waiting to attack them:
The cat was hiding in the bushes, ready to pounce.
pounce on
Kevin pounced on Liam and started hitting him.
—pounce noun [countable]
pounce on somebody/something phrasal verb
1 . to criticize someone’s mistakes or ideas very quickly and eagerly:
Teachers are quick to pounce on students’ grammatical errors.
2 . to eagerly take an opportunity as soon as it becomes available:
When they offered O'Leary the chance to become manager, he pounced on it.