dealt a heavy blow

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dealt a heavy blow" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a difficult setback, for example: The company's reputation was dealt a heavy blow when the scandal was made public.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

But the recession dealt a heavy blow to Mr. Leviev's highly leveraged company.

The New York Times

That recall dealt a heavy blow to the company's sales and reputation in the United States.

The New York Times

That business was dealt a heavy blow in the 1986 tax overhaul.

The New York Times

"The idea of peace, the hope for peace, has been dealt a heavy blow".

The New York Times

But in mid-December, with neither advance notice nor explanation, they were dealt a heavy blow.

The Guardian

"Just three days ago, the terror axis was dealt a heavy blow with the liquidation of bin Laden.

The Washington Post

The abolition of slavery in the first half of the 19th century dealt a heavy blow to the agricultural economy.

Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Then the project was dealt a heavier blow by the 1974 US oil crisis, which caused the cost of petrol to skyrocket, taking the prices of plastic piping and asphalt with it.

The Guardian

Eel shipments to Japan have dropped 50percentthroughgh August of this year, dealing a heavy blow in Fuqing.

The New York Times

Ms. Livni's failure to form a government deals a heavy blow to the peace process.

The New York Times

But if the lobby group achieves its aim, it will deal a heavy blow to the government.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dealt a heavy blow" when you want to emphasize the severity and impact of a negative event on a specific entity or situation. Be sure to clearly identify what received the blow and what the consequences were.

Common error

Ensure you accurately identify what action or event directly "dealt a heavy blow". Avoid vagueness; be specific about the cause to maintain clarity and credibility in your writing.

Linguistic Context

"Dealt a heavy blow" functions as a verb phrase, typically used in the active voice to indicate that an entity or event has caused significant damage or setback to something else. It's a figure of speech that vividly conveys the force of the impact.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

13%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dealt a heavy blow" is a commonly used and grammatically correct idiom that describes a significant setback or negative impact. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is widely accepted and used in various contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media, Encyclopedia, and Academic sources, this phrase effectively conveys the severity of a situation. To avoid misinterpretation, ensure the cause of the "blow" is clearly attributed. While various alternative phrases exist, such as "inflicted a serious setback" or "severely impacted", "dealt a heavy blow" remains a powerful and versatile choice for emphasizing negative consequences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inflicted a serious setback

Emphasizes the act of causing a setback, with 'serious' indicating a notable degree of severity.

severely impacted

Highlights the strong effect or influence on something, using 'severely' to denote a high degree of impact.

caused significant damage

Focuses on the resulting harm or damage, with 'significant' highlighting the extent of the impact.

struck a major setback

Presents the setback as a striking event, with 'major' indicating considerable importance or scale.

delivered a crushing defeat

Emphasizes the decisive nature of the setback, with 'crushing' implying a devastating impact.

imposed a harsh burden

Focuses on the oppressive weight or difficulty resulting from the event, with 'harsh' emphasizing its severity.

created a major obstacle

Highlights the hindering effect of the event, with 'major' signifying a substantial impediment.

presented a formidable challenge

Emphasizes the difficulty and demanding nature of the situation created by the event, using 'formidable' to indicate a significant challenge.

exacted a high toll

Focuses on the cost or sacrifice incurred as a result of the event, with 'high' denoting a substantial loss.

precipitated a steep decline

Highlights the sudden and rapid downturn caused by the event, with 'steep' emphasizing the rate of decline.

FAQs

How can I use "dealt a heavy blow" in a sentence?

You can use "dealt a heavy blow" to describe a situation where something has severely impacted or damaged something else. For example, "The recession "dealt a heavy blow" to the tourism industry".

What are some alternatives to "dealt a heavy blow"?

Some alternatives include "inflicted a serious setback", "caused significant damage", or "severely impacted", depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "dealt a heavy blow" in formal writing?

Yes, "dealt a heavy blow" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in news reports, analytical pieces, and academic papers where you need to convey a significant negative impact. However, consider alternatives like "inflicted a serious setback" if you aim for an even more formal tone.

What is the difference between "dealt a heavy blow" and "dealt a minor setback"?

"Dealt a heavy blow" indicates a severe negative impact, while "dealt a minor setback" suggests a less significant and easily recoverable problem. The key difference lies in the degree of damage or disruption caused.