Csapásra

Csapásra is a Hungarian idiomatic phrase built from the noun csapás, meaning “blow” or “strike,” with the suffix -ra. In practice, it expresses that something is done “in one blow” or “in a single stroke.” The most common form is egy csapásra, which conveys the sense of doing something quickly, decisively, or in a single action.

Usage and meaning

The phrase is used to emphasize speed, efficiency, or completeness of an action. It often appears in journalism, sports, business reports, and literary prose. Examples include: “A terveket egy csapásra megvalósították” (The plans were carried out in one stroke) and “A csapat egy csapásra legyőzte az ellenfelet” (The team defeated the opponent in one blow). The nuance can range from straightforward efficiency to a sense of dramatic impact.

Etymology and form

Csapás means blow or strike, and the -ra suffix functions here to express a manner or extent, yielding the idiomatic meaning “in one blow.” The expression is firmly established in standard Hungarian and is widely understood across registers.

Variations

The bare csapásra is rarely used on its own outside fixed expressions; most often the construction appears with eg y csapásra. In broader contexts, synonymous constructions include egyszóval, egyszerre, or azonnal, depending on nuance.

See also

egy csapásra