strike a blow
The idiom "strike a blow" can be used both literally and figuratively to describe actions that have a significant impact, whether in support of or against something.
Definition
B2General
(figurative, informal)To take action that severely affects or damages something.
Example
- The new law strikes a blow against corruption.
- Her resignation struck a blow to the team's morale.
B2Support
(figurative, informal)To take action that strongly supports or defends a cause.
Example
- The activist's speech struck a blow for environmental justice.
- The court's decision struck a blow for equal rights.
B1Combat
(literal, informal)To deliver a hit or punch.
Example
- He managed to strike a blow to his opponent's jaw.
- In the fight, she struck a blow that ended the conflict.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "strike a blow":
strike a strokestrike instrike backstrike downstrike a leadstrike workstrike offstrike a lightstrike outhit outstrike uplay a glove onstrike one's flagstrike me luckystrike a chordstrike while the iron is hotbody blowstrike a balancecome to blowshit withhit backcome out swingingstrike rateswing foron strikehit itlash outknock the living daylights out ofhit a home runstrike sailhit one out of the ballparkknock outmake one's markhammer blowstrike oillightning striketake aim