accost
/əˈkɒst
/verb [with object]
Approach and address (someone) boldly or aggressively: reporters accosted him in the street...
- A few minutes ago he was accosted by reporters after locking horns with the Prime Minister during question period.
- As she got off the plane in Belgium, she was accosted by reporters asking if she was taking anabolic steroids.
- I am walking speedily along New York's Fifth Avenue when this elegant stranger accosts me, grabs my arm in a vice-like grip and hisses, ‘Where did you get that pin?’
Synonyms
speak to, talk to, call to, shout to, hail, initiate a discussion with;
address, approach, waylay, take aside, detain, stop, halt, grab, catch, confront, importune, solicit
informal buttonhole, collar
British informal nobble
Origin
Late 16th century (originally in the sense 'lie or go alongside'): from French accoster, from Italian accostare, from Latin ad- 'to' + costa 'rib, side'.