prank / stroke
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prank
A joking, malicious, or funny action with which you surprise, annoy, or fool someone. Such a joke is 'played' on someone.
Die Schüler spielten ihrem Lehrer einen Streich und versteckten die Kreide.
The students played a prank on their teacher and hid the chalk.
in one go
A fixed expression meaning that something is done all at once, in a single action, or simultaneously.
Sie erledigte den Einkauf und den Postbesuch auf einen Streich.
She took care of the shopping and the trip to the post office in one go.
bow stroke
The movement of the bow across the strings of a string instrument such as a violin or cello.
Mit einem langen, sanften Streich begann der Cellist das Solo.
With a long, gentle bow stroke, the cellist began the solo.
blow / strike
A blow with a weapon, such as a sword, or with a tool. This meaning is rather old-fashioned or literary today.
Der Ritter wehrte den Streich des Gegners mit seinem Schild ab.
The knight blocked his opponent's blow with his shield.
The noun 'der Streich' (prank/stroke/blow) is closely related to the verb 'streichen' (to stroke, to strike). This connection is still easy to recognize in meanings like the bow stroke on a violin or a blow with a sword.
Mit einem kräftigen Streich durchtrennte er das Seil.
With a powerful blow, he cut through the rope.
You can recognize the meaning of 'Streich' from the context. In connection with musical instruments, it means a bow movement, while verbs like 'spielen' (to play) point to a joke or prank. The expression 'auf einen Streich' always means 'all at once'.
Die Kinder haben dem Hausmeister einen harmlosen Streich gespielt.
The children played a harmless prank on the caretaker.
A 'Streich' (prank) is not 'made' or 'done', but always 'played'. The fixed expression is 'jemandem einen Streich spielen' (to play a prank on someone).
Meine Freunde haben mir zum Geburtstag einen lustigen Streich gespielt.
My friends played a funny prank on me for my birthday.
The expression 'auf einen Streich' (in one go) is a fixed adverbial phrase. It means 'all at the same time' or 'in a single action' and can be placed flexibly in the sentence.
Er hat zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe geschlagen und beide Probleme auf einen Streich gelöst.
He killed two birds with one stone and solved both problems in one go.
The meaning 'blow with a weapon' is old-fashioned and is now used almost only in literary, historical, or fairy-tale-like texts.
Der Held parierte den tödlichen Streich des Drachen.
The hero parried the dragon's deadly blow.
fun / joke
Both words can be associated with a funny action that is not meant seriously. However, a Streich refers to the specific action used to surprise or annoy someone; Spaß describes more the entertaining intention or assessment. Use Streich to name the action, and Spaß to describe its effect or intention.
Die Kinder spielten ihrem Lehrer mit der Überraschung einen Streich.
The children played a prank on their teacher with the surprise.
Die Kinder hatten mit der Überraschung für ihren Lehrer viel Spaß.
The children had a lot of fun with the surprise they had planned for their teacher.
