body blow

Noun

Meaning

(idiomatic, by extension) A serious setback; a traumatizing event which prevents or hinders continuation of an activity.

body-blow (plural body-blows)

Alternative form of body blow

A severely injurious or damaging physical strike or impact.

(boxing) A hard punch struck to the torso.

Alternative names

body-blow

Antonyms

Examples

It has been hard to get my head around how Justice Antonin Scalia rationalizes his decisions. His body blow to the Voting Rights Act was a head scratcher, but at least he was calm when he attempted to justify his odd logic. Henry Rollins

It has taken a devastating body blow — as it did in 1918 — with the closure of theaters in such entertainment capitals as London, Paris and New York. Source: Internet

Journalist Oliver Balch, who recently closed his bookshop in the town and works at the festival most years, called the news “a body blow for everyone”. Source: Internet

Common Cause in Wisconsin: Another body blow to democracy and transparency. Source: Internet

Iain Duncan Smith, former Conservative Party leader, who’s been arguing against blanket lockdowns, called the second lockdown “a body blow to the British people.” Source: Internet

Backlash over chancellor’s 'cruel' expected public sector pay freezeFreezing pay for millions of public sector workers has been described as a "cruel body blow" by unions. Source: Internet

Close letter words and terms