body blow
noun Boxing.
a blow driven to the opponent's body between the breastbone and the navel.
any action that causes severe damage, losses, etc.: Our business received a body blow in the recession.
Origin of body blow
First recorded in 1785–95
Words nearby body blow
body,
body armour,
body art,
body bag,
body beautiful,
body blow,
body bolster,
body brussels,
body building,
body cavity,
body cell
Example sentences from the Web for body blow
Like Garrison, she strikes a body-blow straight from the shoulder.
The Life and Work of Susan B. Anthony (Volume 2 of 2) |Ida Husted Harper
British Dictionary definitions for body blow
body blow
noun
Also called: body punch boxing
a blow to the body of an opponent
a severe disappointment or setback
unavailability of funds was a body blow to the project
Idioms and Phrases with body blow
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]