strike somebody ↔ down phrasal verb ( see also ↑ strike )
1 . [usually passive] to kill someone or make them extremely ill:
Over 50 nurses at the clinic have been struck down with a mystery virus.
They would rob the bodies of those struck down in battle.
2 . formal to hit someone so hard that they fall down
3 . law to say that a law, decision etc is illegal and officially end it