- 1a hard hit with the hand, a weapon, etc. She received a severe blow on the head. He was knocked out by a single blow to the head. The two men were exchanging blows. He landed a blow on Hill's nose.
- 2blow (to somebody/something) a sudden event which has damaging effects on someone or something, causing sadness or disappointment Losing his job came as a terrible blow to him. It was a shattering blow to her pride. The new benefit cuts will be seen as a crippling blow to people with low incomes. The recent bomb attacks are a serious blow for the peace process. see body blow
- 3the action of blowing Give your nose a good blow (= clear it completely). Try to put the candles out in one blow. I'll give three blows on the whistle as a signal. Idioms
- 1to be very shocking or harmful to someone or something Her sudden death dealt a blow to the whole country.
- 2to hit someone or something
a description of an event that gives you all the details in the order in which they happen He insisted on giving us a blow-by-blow account of what had happened.
to start fighting because of something We almost came to blows over what color the new carpet should be.
to make something that is unpleasant seem less unpleasant and easier to accept
to do something in support of/against a belief, principle, etc. He felt that they had struck a blow for democracy.
Check pronunciation: blow