take a blow

USAGE SUMMARY

"take a blow" is a correct expression in written English.
It is generally used as a metaphor to refer to an emotional or psychological setback, as in the following example sentence: "Having failed to win the match, the team were forced to take a blow to their morale."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

But Navalny did well enough in the election that Sobyanin's standing appeared to take a blow.

The Washington Post

Take a blow torch and toast it like a Baked Alaska.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We now know that it does not necessarily take a blow to the head to cause T.B.I.

The New York Times

"Anytime you take a blow to the knee like that, you're concerned about the A.C.L., M.C.L.," Peterson said.

The New York Times

Griffin appeared to take a blow to the face when he tried to spin for a baseline shot.

The New York Times - Sports

All those items are likely to increase in price -- unless companies that make them take a blow to their profits.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

It will take a blow-out victory on May 6th in Indiana the primaries' next Super Bowl to break the pattern.

The Economist

Try this: take a blow-up globe down to your nearest public space – a shopping mall, perhaps, or a train station – and ask people to find Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous nation.

The Guardian

"Then take a blow-dryer on the cool setting and blow-dry your underarms.

Huffington Post

A year ago, ETA took a blow as regional elections brought a pro-Spanish government to power in the Basque country for the first time in nearly 30 years.

The New York Times

Mullard, A. IDO takes a blow.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "take a blow", consider the context to ensure it accurately reflects the type and severity of the negative impact. Use it to describe situations where something or someone experiences a setback, loss, or negative consequence.

Common error

Avoid using "take a blow" to describe minor inconveniences or trivial matters. This phrase implies a significant setback or challenge, so reserve it for situations where the impact is substantial.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take a blow" functions as a metaphorical expression, indicating the experience of a setback, loss, or negative consequence. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and used to describe situations where an entity undergoes a negative impact.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

16%

Science & Research

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "take a blow" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe experiencing a setback, loss, or negative consequence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used and accepted in written English. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, with a neutral register suitable for various types of discussions. While it implies a significant impact, it's important to use it appropriately, reserving it for situations where the setback is substantial, and not for minor inconveniences. Alternatives like "suffer a setback" or "experience a loss" can be used to add nuance depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suffer a setback

Focuses more on the event that caused the negative impact.

experience a hardship

Emphasizes the difficulty and suffering involved.

endure a loss

Highlights the aspect of losing something valuable.

face a difficulty

Focuses on the confrontation with a challenging situation.

encounter adversity

Emphasizes the challenging and unfavorable conditions.

absorb a shock

Suggests dealing with a sudden and unexpected negative event.

feel the impact

Focuses on the direct consequences of an event.

weather a storm

Implies surviving a difficult period or crisis.

undergo a trial

Suggests a challenging experience that tests one's resilience.

meet with misfortune

Emphasizes bad luck or unfortunate circumstances.

FAQs

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

Use "take a blow" to describe experiencing a setback, loss, or negative consequence. For example, "The company's profits "suffered a setback" after the new regulations were implemented."

What can I say instead of "take a blow"?

You can use alternatives like "suffer a setback", "experience a loss", or "face a difficulty" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "took a blow" or "taken a blow"?

Both "took a blow" and "taken a blow" are correct depending on the tense. "Took a blow" is the past tense (e.g., "The team took a blow when their star player got injured"), while "taken a blow" is used with auxiliary verbs like "has" or "have" to form the present perfect tense (e.g., "The company has taken a blow due to the recession").

What's the difference between "take a blow" and "receive a hit"?

"Take a blow" generally refers to experiencing a negative impact or setback, while "receive a hit" can also refer to a literal physical impact. The choice depends on whether you're describing a figurative or literal situation.