egregious blow

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "egregious blow" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant or shocking setback or harm, often in a figurative sense. Example: "The team's loss in the final match was an egregious blow to their championship hopes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Mr. Conyers said: "This draft bill constitutes yet another egregious blow to our citizens' civil liberties.

The New York Times

The most egregious blow to gender equality is their self-loathing notion of physical beauty.

Huffington Post

That means some of the great songs written by American masters are harshly truncated -- possibly the most egregious blow is dealt to "The Song is You," which, like "Ol' Man River," is a Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II knock-out.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The problem, of course, is that Joyce's decision is easily the most egregious blown call in baseball over the last 25 years.

The New York Times

In only the past few years, Americans have suffered several egregious blows, with basic human dignities being stripped by our government.

Huffington Post

Think of it this way: If 88percentt of all car dealers were Democratic contributors, rather than GOPers, how likely is it that the Obama folks would be delivering such an egregious economic blow to the group, a blow that put thousands of people out of work and deprives hundreds of Democratic donors of their means of making contributions?

Huffington Post

In a signal 2-to-1 ruling yesterday, a federal appeals court in Manhattan struck a blow against egregious presidential overreaching in the name of fighting terrorism.

The New York Times

But the most egregious of all coaching blow-ups comes from basketball, and happened off the court.

The New Yorker

We also need to blow the whistle on such egregious fouls calculated to undermine the political process and magnify the ugliest prejudices that our nation has done so much to overcome.

The New York Times

"Who's going to look after the children?" Fabius said, blowing his chances with one egregious sentence.

The New Yorker

Rafael Marques de Morais, a prominent regime critic who was imprisoned for a series of articles he wrote about the president, said the ruling party is hoping to "control and censor any attempt by political activists to use social media and the internet to blow the whistle on the most egregious examples of corruption, nepotism and the abuse of power".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "egregious blow" to describe events or actions that are not only harmful but also shockingly bad or obviously wrong. This phrase is often used in formal writing or when emphasizing the severity of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "egregious blow" in casual conversation or informal writing. The phrase's formality can sound out of place in relaxed settings; consider more casual alternatives like "big problem" or "major issue".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "egregious blow" functions as a noun phrase typically used as an object or complement within a sentence. It describes a particularly offensive, shocking, or harmful action or event. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "egregious blow" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a shockingly bad or harmful event. While relatively rare, its primary context is in news and media, where it serves to emphasize the severity and reprehensibility of a situation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides several real-world examples. For more informal settings, alternatives like "major setback" or "devastating blow" may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

devastating blow

This is a more intense expression indicating severe damage or ruin.

serious setback

Replaces "egregious blow" with more neutral terms, focusing on the negative impact.

major setback

Similar to "serious setback" but emphasizes the scale of the problem.

significant setback

Like "major setback" but possibly slightly less intense.

severe setback

A strong alternative, indicating a harsh and difficult reversal.

grievous blow

A more formal and emphatic way to express a severe and lamentable setback.

terrible setback

Emphasizes the negative aspect more strongly than "serious setback".

critical setback

Implies that the setback is essential and has a significant impact on the overall progress.

substantial setback

Indicates that the setback is considerable and of notable size or importance.

crushing defeat

Highlights the feeling of being overwhelmed and defeated by the setback.

FAQs

How can I use "egregious blow" in a sentence?

You can use "egregious blow" to describe a significantly harmful action or event. For example, "The new policy was an "egregious blow" to small businesses".

What are some alternatives to "egregious blow"?

Alternatives to "egregious blow" include "devastating blow", "serious setback", or "major setback". Choose the alternative that best fits the tone and context of your writing.

What makes a "blow" egregious?

A "blow" is considered egregious when it is shockingly bad or obviously wrong, making it particularly offensive or harmful. It implies a violation of standards or expectations.

Is "egregious blow" appropriate for informal communication?

While grammatically correct, "egregious blow" is generally more suitable for formal writing. In informal settings, simpler phrases like "major problem" or "big hit" might be more appropriate.