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body blow

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body blow

1. A strong hit to one's body. Everyone in the audience gasped when the seasoned boxer took a body blow from his opponent and dropped to his knees in agony.

2. By extension, a large disappointment or setback. Olivia's dreams of becoming a professional ice skater took a body blow when she tore a ligament in her right knee. The scandal was a body blow to the politician's career, and he retired to the private sector.

See also: blow, body

body blow

An action that causes severe damage, as in This last recession dealt a body blow to our whole industry. This term comes from boxing, where since the 18th century it has been used to refer to a punch that is landing between the opponent's chest and navel. [c. 1900]

See also: blow, body