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blow

blow

271 2.0
A strong hit from a fist or weapon
  • noun
  • /bloʊ/
translation icon : golpe
  • After a sudden blow to the head, he struggled to maintain his balance.
  • a decisive blow
  • strike a blow
  • deliver a blow

After the blow to the head the ink rose.

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Examples

  • The water softened the blow, but it knocked the breath out of him anyway.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Big Jim recovered from the blow he received from Black Larson but lost his memory.

  • Yeah, these can happen from, you know, a significant blow to the head.

  • After the blow to the head the ink rose.

  • That was the hardest blow in the fight!

  • Too many blows to the head.

  • Father Singletary was killed by a blow to the side of his head.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • You know, you probably shouldn't move someone who's had a bad blow to the head.

  • Both pitchers have gone blow-for-blow in the early innings.

  • The tension of water versus stone is released in earth-shattering blows delivered by the waves.

    Academic text (2008)

Synonyms

bang
vsblow
237 1.3

A sudden loud noise from a hit or impact

is about physical strong hits regardless of noise presence
swing
vsblow
167 2.3

An attempt to hit something made with a wide arm movement

indicates a completed strong hit rather than merely an attempted strike
slap
vsblow
110 1.0

A quick sharp hit with the flat part of the hand

is the neutral term for strong hits not tied to hand strikes
swat
vsblow
104 3.9

A quick hard hit with the hand or a flat object

refers to strong hits more generally, not only quick or hand strikes
belt
vsblow
  • Informal
98 4.1

A hard hit with a lot of force, often from the arm

refers to hits involving a fist, weapon, or other object
shock
vsblow
41 2.1

A sudden violent hit that moves something strongly

focuses on a single forceful strike not on broader disturbances
swipe
vsblow
39 3.9

A strong sweeping hit with the arm, hand, or paw

focuses on a single strong impact rather than a wide sweeping action
knock
vsblow
32 1.0

A hard blow that can cause pain or damage

applies to hits made with a fist, weapon, or other object
whip
vsblow
32 2.5

A quick sharp hit made by a long thin tool

is the general term for strong hits not only made with long flexible tools
jar
vsblow
20 6.9

A sudden strong shake or hit that makes you stumble

denotes a strong hit more as a direct strike than the aftereffect
smash
vsblow
7 3.0

A very hard hit in sport, like in tennis

applies generally to strong hits outside only sports contexts
smacker
vsblow
  • Slang
3 8.8

A very hard hit with the fist

covers strong hits more broadly, not only fist strikes
thwack
vsblow
3 8.4

A hard loud hit from a flat object that makes a sharp sound

refers to strong hits generally, not focused on sharp sound or flat tools
wallop
vsblow
  • Informal
3 6.7

A very hard blow that hurts someone

is a general term for strong hits without stressing heaviness
clip
vsblow
2 5.6

A quick sharp hit, often with the hand

is the broader term for strong hits, not limited to slanting hand strikes
whiplash
vsblow
1 6.7

A sharp quick blow from a whip

covers strong hits in general not only quick flexible tool strikes
whang
vsblow
  • UK
1 9.9

A hard hit that makes a loud sound

is the broader term for strong hits without the energetic tone
golpe
vsblow
9.9

A sudden strong hit that hurts someone or something

is the neutral term for strong hits without implying violence
impaction
vsblow
9.3

A strong hit that makes a sudden hard contact with something

is the everyday term for strong hits rather than technical collisions

Idioms

50 6.2

To surprise someone a lot and make them feel excited

To beat someone or something completely by a lot

8 4.7

Make bad news or a loss easier to accept

4 6.8

To surprise and beat someone or something by a large amount

To seriously damage an idea or reputation

2 8.6

Suddenly get very angry and show it

1 8.4

To change your feelings or opinion often and without warning

to blow a fuse
  • Informal
1 7.4

To suddenly become very angry

To leave a place quickly because you do not want to be there

To talk proudly about your own abilities or achievements

1 7.2

To do much better than people expect

to suck and blow
  • Informal
1 9.9

To try to do two opposite things at the same time

to blow one's load
  • Offensive
9.9

Informal and rude way to use up all your energy or resources at once

8.0

To suddenly become very angry

9.9

To spend all your money at once

Make a fire burn hotter by blowing air on hot coals

8.8

To make someone very impressed or be much better than something

To take action that supports justice

Compounds

11 2.7

A small handheld electric device that blows warm air to dry and style hair

low blow
  • Offensive
8 5.5

A remark or action that unfairly hurts someone's feelings

blow-by-blow
  • Literature
5 7.4

A detailed step-by-step description of an event as it happens

Joe Blow
  • Informal
2 4.8

A person who is like most everyday people

2 7.3

A sudden event that causes great harm or shock to plans and feelings

1 7.2

A large fly with a shiny blue-green body that lays eggs on dead animals and in wounds

by-blow
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A child whose parents are not married to each other

blow gas
  • Specialized
8.8

Gas released from a generator during maintenance or venting

blow molding machine
  • Specialized
6.3

A machine that makes hollow plastic items like bottles by heating plastic and using air to shape it

blow tube
  • Specialized
8.2

A tube that sends air into a flame to make it hotter

8.4

A tube like a straw that sends small darts when someone blows into it

A machine that makes hollow plastic items like bottles by using air to push heated plastic into a mold

How Strong

to smash
311 2.1
blow
271 2.0
to punch
455 1.4
hit
459 1.0
tap
66 1.0

Surface Forms

blow singular
blows plural

Etymology

The noun blow meaning 'a hit' comes from the verb blow that once meant 'to strike' or 'hit', like a hard wind hitting you. That's why a blow can be a physical hit from a fist or an object.