strike a blow

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Verb

strike a blow (third-person singular simple present strikes a blow, present participle striking a blow, simple past struck a blow, past participle struck a blow or (rare) stricken a blow)

1. (idiomatic) To hit; to successfully land a hit.

   His opponent danced and dodged so nimbly that he couldn’t strike a blow.

2. (figuratively) To do something to support or defend (for) or to hinder or harm (at / against) something.

   The Supreme Court ruling struck a blow for gender equality.

   It is hoped that the new vaccine will strike a blow against the spread of tuberculosis.