English Reference
Idiom idiom

body blow


A serious setback; a traumatizing event which prevents or hinders continuation of an activity.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

The loss of their main sponsor was a real body blow.

CONTEXTUAL

Losing the championship game after such a long season was a major body blow to the team's morale.

COMPLEX

The sudden cancellation of the project served as a devastating body blow to the department, effectively halting all progress on their research for the remainder of the year.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    as the wind blows

    According to any given circumstances.

  2. 02

    blow a fuse

    To lose one's temper; to become enraged.

  3. 03

    blow a hole through

    To destroy the integrity or cohesion of.

  4. 04

    blow a kiss

    To kiss one's own hand, then blow on it in a direction towards the recipient.

  5. 05

    blow away

    To kill (someone) by shooting them with a firearm.

  6. 06

    blow chunks

    To vomit chunks of undigested food.

  7. 07

    blow hot air

    To engage in empty or exaggerated talk that lacks substance, credibility, or truth; to bluster.

  8. 08

    blow hot and cold

    To behave inconsistently; to vacillate or to waver, as between extremes of opinion or emotion.

Last updated August 10, 2026