Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
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.
noun
- Also called: body punch boxing a blow to the body of an opponent
- a severe disappointment or setbackunavailability of funds was a body blow to the project
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]