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at first blush

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at first blush

Upon first seeing or considering something. At first blush, I thought the house was great, but the inspector's list of problems changed my opinion. The contract did seem favorable at first blush, but it eventually cost me a lot of money.

See also: blush, first

at first blush

when first learning or thinking about something At first blush, the house seemed perfect until we discovered we had no heat or hot water.

Related vocabulary: at first glance

See also: blush, first

at first blush

  (mainly American)

when you first start to think about something His decision isn't as odd as it may seem at first blush.

See also: blush, first

at first blush

Also, at first glance or sight . When first seen. For example, At first blush we thought it was an elegant restaurant, but it soon became obvious that it was hardly the place for a special dinner , or At first glance the contract looked just fine. All three phrases date from the 1300s. The noun blush is used with the obsolete meaning "glimpse" or "momentary view" and in this idiom has nothing to do with showing embarrassment. Also see love at first sight.

See also: blush, first