1no object (of wind) move creating an air current.

1. 1.1with object and adverbial of direction (of wind) cause (something) to move; propel.
   a gust of wind blew a cloud of smoke into his face

   the spire was blown down during a gale

   Example sentencesExamples

   • It's like comparing the sound of a broken blender to the sound of harp strings blown by the wind.
   • August is the hottest month in the desert but drivers will encounter less sand blown by the wind.
   • He had commenced work when a gust of wind blew his cloak, which he had left upon a rock, across the valley and it landed where the monastery was later built.
   • It is believed a gust of wind blew her gown into the engine.
   • Audrey's blonde hair was blown by the wind, making her look like some screaming banshee.
   • Was that a dog rolling on the pavement or a newspaper blown by the wind?
   • Lauren nodded and then felt a huge gust of wind blow the hair around her face.
   • But shoppers were given a surprise when gusts of wind blew water from two of the sculptures on to the street.
   • The road is straighter than the track of a rain drop blown by high wind.
   • Wind gusts can blow the rotting trees down, posing a serious enough danger that the city removes them for reasons of liability.
   • Monday's eruption occurred just before sunset; the ash cloud was blown by the wind toward the west, away from the most heavily populated areas.
   • The curtains were blown by the wind, along with his hair.
   • I thought that I must be mistaken, that they were blown by the wind, but again I bent to touch one, and saw it hop hastily away.
   • We are here, we're going to disappear so quickly, like a puff of milkweed pod blown by the wind.
   • His hair was blown by the wind and his grey eyes were smiling a little.
   • The lump of mud around the roots kept it very steady and once we got moving the wind blew it backwards, but I kept checking for overhead power lines.
   • He didn't want to allow what might be his only chance to be with her fritter away like paper blown by the wind.
   • One of its sides leaned over the top of us, almost forming a roof, yet above us and to our right I could clearly see a white lacework of froth being blown by the wind on the sea's surface.
   • Her long, cellar-black hair was blown by the wind across her exquisitely beautiful face.
   • During the celebrations, an ominous gust of wind blew desert sand over the assembled dignitaries.

   Synonyms

   sweep, carry, pull, drag, drive, buffet, move, whisk, toss, waft, whirl
2. 1.2no object, with adverbial of direction Be carried, driven, or moved by the wind or an air current.
   it was so windy that the tent nearly blew away

   cotton curtains blowing in the breeze

   Example sentencesExamples

   • As a non-smoker I feel as though I have the right to go out for the night and not have smoke blown into my face.
   • Antimony cast a scornful eye over the wrecked interior, the ripped curtains blowing plaintively with a weak breeze.
   • In the distance were clouds rising from chimneys, as wiry as the lines of smoke blowing from Vesa's roll-ups.
   • As long as they don't have leaves blowing around in the Tardis I'll be happy.
   • Looking through his sorcerous eyes, he watched as the magical flux appeared, and then blew away, like smoke on a breeze.
   • I know it's a free country, but if I've sat quietly on a bench minding my own business then why should I have to put up with someone else's smoke blowing freely in my face.
   • For the last few months we have had to use the main entrance and had to push our way past the smokers on the steps besides having smoke blown at us.
   • She was keen, going round to the far side of the barbecue, heading for the only available space… the gap in the circle where all the smoke and ashes blew.
   • After I hung up the phone I sat outside a little bit and watched the leaves blow on the trees.
   • The leaves have mostly blown off the trees in the past two days, so if you were looking for foliage, this is pretty much what's left
   • At one point, deep in the windy mountains, the windscreen wiper right in front of my face nearly blew away!
   • She made her way into one of the two bedrooms, finding a large four poster, lacy curtains of the canopy blowing gently in the breeze of the air conditioner.
   • By lunchtime it was still hanging around, and dead leaves were blowing around among the office workers tramping down Lonsdale Street in search of food.
   • Who wants smoke blowing all over a lovely dinner you?
   • These issues aside, it is also very unpleasant to have foul-smelling smoke blowing into your face when you are trying to enjoy for example, a meal.
   • The glass doors are shielded from the inside with white, nearly transparent curtains and they blow inward with the breeze.
   • Luckily, the smoke was blowing away from Halifax Road.
   • Melbourne looked autumnal - a sudden shower, and dead leaves blowing around the streets.
   • Flames leapt high in the sky and smoke blew across Castleton at the height of the blaze.
   • She puts in long hours there and she's a smoker herself, but she describes working behind a bar as like having smoke constantly blown in your face, hour after hour.

   Synonyms

   drift, flutter, waft, flow, stream, whirl, move, wave, flap, undulate, float, glide, travel, be carried
3. 1.3North American informal Leave.
   I'd better blow

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Boy, when guys blow on this climb, they are gone in a hurry!
   • The duo plan to blow town the next morning, but until then, they have to pretend as if nothing's changed.
   • It's only a matter of time before these guys blow, so see them while you still can.
   • He blew town but later turned himself in to police in Muskegon.
   • Board up, pack up, and blow town before the traffic chokes.

2no object (of a person) expel air through pursed lips.

1. 2.1with object Use one's breath to propel (something)
   he blew cigar smoke in her face

   Example sentencesExamples

   • I look out the window of the front porch, drawing a deep breath, blowing it onto the window.
   • She played with her breath, blowing it into the air to make small clouds of fog and watch them fade away.
   • The other took a puff of his cigar and blew a cloud of smoke at the cherub.
   • Baranza began to walk toward him, chuckling under his breath, and Brigg blew a stream of smoke from his mouth before removing the cigarette.
   • I used to enjoy blowing smoke rings in idle moments.
   • They blew clouds of fishy breath our way and rumbled like elephants.
   • It's an advanced skill and shouldn't be tried by anyone without precise buoyancy because of the risk of holding your breath while blowing the bubble.
   • He let out a deep breath, blowing the hair from his eyes and got to his feet.
   • ‘The merchandising looks nothing like us,’ he says, blowing hula hoops of cigar smoke.
   • He took a long puff of his cigar then sighed, blowing a steady stream of smoke.
   • We took turns taking deep drags on the cigarette and blowing smoke rings.
   • He blew out his breath, blowing his hair like Jocelyn had done earlier.
   • She inhaled and blew a stream of smoke in Ethan's direction.
   • Inhaling deeply I blew a puff of smoke right into some nerd's face.
   • Taking a deep breath he blew a series of inaudible slow notes, making slight adjustments to the slide after each one.
   • When he chucked his breath blew my hair a little and tickled my neck.
   • He blew air into it like a musical instrument; He created nine visible doors, while the tenth one was kept concealed.
   • The man proceeded to step back on to the carpet and blow heavy clouds of cigar smoke on to staff trying to serve other customers.
   • They all huddled around low benches, looking excited and blowing puffs of icy breath.
   • But no… he had to blow that cigar smoke in my face for ten minutes, didn't he?

   Synonyms

   exhale, breathe out, puff out, emit, expel, discharge, give out, issue, send forth
2. 2.2 Breathe hard; pant.
   Uncle Albert was soon puffing and blowing

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Falkon shot into Avaria, panting and blowing like a horse.
   • Both were blowing hard as assistant coach, aged 42 and retired from competitive football for 10 years, beat them to the line.
   • He was keeled over, blowing hard, his hands braced on his knees, sweat dripping off his nose.
   • Taylor wasn't the only Scottish forward puffing and blowing towards the end of the game, and when it came to tempo there was only one team dictating it.
   • The only sound was coming from Drake, his breath blowing hard from his lungs with every push up.
   • Ketheral waited until they rose, breathing and blowing heavily - one of them cursing breathlessly.
   • They reached the border of the camp in five minutes, every puppy panting and blowing, and Teera gazing calmly at the range of tents.
   • The hounds are blowing hard and dripping with sweat, but they are utterly delighted with themselves.
   • Bill is puffing and blowing, but there is a look of ineffable peace and growing content on his rose-pink features.

   Synonyms

   wheeze, puff, pant, puff and pant, gasp, huff and puff, breathe hard/heavily, fight for breath, catch one's breath
3. 2.3as adjective blown Out of breath; panting.
   an exhausted, blown horse

   Example sentencesExamples

   • After French cuirassiers and lancers had counter-attacked, Ponsonby was dead and a sad remnant on blown horses limped back to be of no further use to an exasperated Wellington.
   • ‘Are you fellows mad?’ shouted the young storekeeper, as he dashed past the group, and pulled his blown horse round in a circle.
   • He changed horses five times, each time dropping off a blown horse and throwing himself into the next one that was saddled.
   • Whatever the reason, as long as it is easy for the rider of a blown horse to change horses during a game, we are going to see these cases.
   • At two o'clock a jaded and blown horse stood before the door of the barracks at Archangel's Rise.
4. 2.4with object Force air through the mouth into (an instrument) in order to make a sound.
   the umpire blew his whistle

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Wallace blew his shrilly whistle and dismissed the team, who tiredly made their way to the locker room.
   • They both know that victory is essential and neither of them throw in the towel until the final whistle has been blown so I wouldn't take my eyes off this game for a second.
   • It says a lot about a match when the most dramatic moments come after the final whistle has been blown, when both managers get to bickering about the referee.
   • The whistle is to be blown only in the event of emergencies and must be visibly worn at all times while on the premises.
   • Dayton opened his mouth to continue conversation, but to my delight, Mr. Burner blew his over pitched whistle.
   • He spoke frankly only after the whistle had already been blown.
   • The train passed through bright sunlit gardens and dark tunnels as it rattled over the tracks, stopping every once in a while and blowing its long low whistle.
   • This is because every driver has to ensure they act in line with a whistle which is blown three times.

   Synonyms

   sound, play, blast, toot, pipe, trumpet

   make a noise with
5. 2.5 (of an instrument) make a sound when air is forced into it.
   police whistles blew

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Long after the final whistle had blown at their semi-final, the sound of drums beating and fans chanting could be heard outside the stadium.
   • Seconds later the final whistle blew and it was all over.
   • Whistles blown, air horns sounding, as we swept past the most fashionable addresses in London.
   • There were great scenes of excitement when the final whistle blew with the Mercy obviously very relieved to have won this game having made the long trek north.
   • This was an odd game of rugby in which the home side led from the first minute until the last but never looked safe until the final whistle had blown.
   • There was an intriguing cameo as the half-time whistle blew.
   • As the final whistle blew, the crowd erupted in jubilation.
   • In its early history, music was the serious concern of voices, or instruments blown or bowed.
   • Kevin admitted to being choked with pride when the final whistle blew and TV viewers across the world saw the Ireland manager punching the air with joy.
   • It had been 40 years since the company closed the railway, but now there was again an echo in the wilderness, as the whistle blew once more.
   • When the whistle blew for half time the antagonists bowed to each other and went off to drink in the same pub (admittedly in separate bars).
   • Passengers saying goodbye to loved ones, the hiss and woosh of the trains, whistles blowing and luggage everywhere.
   • Whistles blew, cars honked, sirens sounded - noises typical of any urban environment.
   • It was quiet from midnight to 6 a.m., but then it was like in the cartoons when the factory whistle blows, they just started crashing.
   • The ball was kicked out and the final whistle blew.
   • A computer generated voice comes to life as klaxons sound and whistles blow.
   • Watch in amazement as the final free is taken in the All Ireland Hurling Final and the final whistle blows immediately afterwards.
   • The pulse of the drums rose to a new peak, the conch shells blew; then suddenly something very strange happened.
   • Like those two characters, who are friends off-duty but become antagonists when the workday whistle blows, until they punch out at the end of the day.
   • Even long after the final whistle had blown, Cooper was still being congratulated by his City team-mates as he went to join his friend's birthday celebrations.
6. 2.6with object Sound (the horn of a vehicle)
   angry motorists blew their horns

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Other motorists also blow their horns in return to wish the newlyweds good luck.
   • Then a horn was to be blown and the words ‘Out on ye, out on ye, out on ye’ shouted.
   • And all that motor vehicle horn blowing that's so much fun when you're in the car?
   • Jack said as the horn blew signaling the five-minute warning for the shipmates loved ones.
   • They came streaming over the front line east from Kunduz in a cloud of dust at about 2pm local time, their vehicle lights on and horns blowing.
   • Picket lines enjoyed public support yesterday with motorists blowing their horns.
   • They stopped for about 10 minutes at the grade road crossing just up the track, blew a louder horn than before, and then moved very slowly and carefully across the road.
   • Before he could find one a horn blew somewhere sounding the approach of dawn.
   • The victory here seemed as if Swaziland had just won the World Cup with motorists blowing their car horns in wild jubilation.
   • Should a motorist blow his horn the Guide Dog can become agitated and may therefore be unsure as to what course of action to take.
   • There was suddenly the sound of someone blowing a horn of some kind.
7. 2.7informal Play jazz or rock music in an unrestrained style.
   it took him maybe five choruses to warm up, but then he could really blow

   Example sentencesExamples

   • You've got to be spontaneous, that's all I know, like jazz, just blow as long and as deep as you can.
   • He's got his trumpet with him and he's doing his thing, blowing smooth leads with an easy sense of cool that seems to come naturally.
   • In the second, he takes control early, with some quiet but sustained, high pitched blowing.
   • Hess's blowing opens confidently as he demonstrates his speedy technical mastery.
   • Can these guys actually play, or are they just making a bunch of groovy thump 'n' blow because that's all they can do?
   • But because of all this, the record companies got kinda afraid, and we weren't really allowed to blow.
   • It's a blowing session of free-ish jazz; sometimes funky, sometimes atmospheric, framed by sketchy themes and arrangements.
   • While they aren't short of improvisational talent, they're not a blowing band in the usual sense of the word.
   • What has not escaped their attention amongst all the jazz blowing and beat sampling is the need for melody, musical hooks and the ability to make the essence of the tunes stick in the mind.
   • Downtown Jewish jazz artists are coming out of the closet, blowing contemporary twists on klezmer riffs for enthusiastic audiences.
8. 2.8with object Force air through a tube into (molten glass) in order to create an artefact.
   factory showrooms where you can see glass being blown and painted

   Example sentencesExamples

   • She has been blowing glass for 35 years, becoming one of America's finest living artists.
   • Note 1: There is a glass factory in Provence where you can watch the workers blow the molten glass straight from the furnace.
   • It was the Romans who first utilized the technique of blowing glass on a widespread scale and they perfected other facets of glass technology to a high degree.
   • Leaving the rainbow-coloured wonderland of hand blown glass, I am one more happy customer in search of my own white rabbit.
   • In the year that followed, however, the sculpture was wrecked three times by vandals who smashed out its specially blown coloured glass light tubes.
   • In order to mold glass into a meaningful shape, the artisan must blow through a tube into molten glass.
   • Then we had a go at making our own rather less exquisite glassware, blowing down long tubes into molten glass until we nearly passed out.
   • The jug in Plate XI is blown cristallo glass infused with fragmented bits of gold leaf and submerged random streaks of amethyst glass.
   • Much of these vegetal forms were cast in iron or blown into glass moulds on an industrial scale.
   • Glass is blown or molded into many shapes for decorative items, and for beverage glasses and other eating and serving dishes.
   • When molten, glass may be blown up like a balloon, bent, moulded, stretched, and stuck onto other pieces of glass.
9. 2.9with object Remove the contents of (an egg) by forcing air through it.
   teaching children to blow an egg by placing holes in either end with a pin

   Example sentencesExamples

   • I love to blow eggs with kids!
   • They blew eggs from the shells then filled the shells with custard.
   • We have been professionally blowing eggs for crafters for over 10 years.
   • There are special kits and tools for blowing eggs that make the process easier and safer for children and adults alike.
   • Since I was a kid we used to blow eggs and then dye them.
10. 2.10 (of a whale) eject air and vapour through the blowhole.
    Example sentencesExamples

    • A little further south, in Cunningham Islet, a pod of Beluga whales blow and laze on the surface of the sea.
    • I would leave early in the morning when the water was very calm in the lee of Maui, just go out look for whales surfacing and blowing.
    • Biologists can hear blue whales blow at the surface from several miles away, often before they can see them.
    • If you are downwind when the whales blow, there is no mistaking the content of their gargantuan diet.
    • We also witnessed humpback whales blowing and diving, breaching and slapping their fins and flukes.
    • When they blow, their melon and beak tend to jut above the water surface.

3with object and adverbial of direction (of an explosion or explosive device) displace violently or send flying.

1. 3.1no object (of a vehicle tyre) burst suddenly while the vehicle is in motion.
   a rear tyre had blown

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Travelling into London on the elevated section of the M4, over the Chiswick Roundabout, a tyre blew.
   • So I'm 12 miles from home, with no spare tubes, a blown tyre, and no way of fixing it.
   • A puncture had suddenly worsened and blown, with the damaged tyre now in danger of lacerating the car.
   • Twelve miles later, a tyre blew and the lorry careered off the road and into a tree.
   • He won at Rockingham and was leading the season finale the next week at Homestead until a tire blew and the wheel well caught fire on the last lap.
   • The driver, of Kennington Park, London, said he had managed to steer his car onto the hard shoulder when his tyre blew.
   • The driver, 67, and his wife, 66, said a tyre had blown out only hours before Thursday's crash and been changed at a garage.
   • This results in a smashing encounter with a stranded SUV, its tires blown out by a barbed wire trap.
   • Then, suddenly his back tyre blows and he grinds to a halt.
   • Our back tire suddenly blew and we had to try and cut through about three lanes to get off the highway past cars and trucks.
   • I smelled burning rubber and realized I had hot brakes and possibly a blown tire.
   • Julia's dad was driving and suddenly one of the front tires blew.
   • Suddenly the van started swerving, a tire blew, and my mom lost control.
   • In fact it was the right rear tyre that blew at lap 83 just after turn 4.
   • The only damage was the blown tire and one broken hydraulic line (from hitting the mud).
   • Indeed, the tire had pretty much completely blown off the hubcap.
   • The tyre blew at the end of the straight and that was the end of my race.
   • It is believed the car spun out of control when a tyre blew.
   • Only on Tuesday, in record temperatures, Mr Scott's journey almost came to an abrupt end when a road train over taking him on the highway suddenly blew a nearside rear tyre.
   • On my way back from the airport on Sunday, wouldn't you know it - my tyre blew.

   Synonyms

   burst, explode, blow, split, rupture, crack, break, fly open
2. 3.2 Burst or cause to burst due to pressure or overheating.
   no object the engines sounded as if their exhausts had blown

   Example sentencesExamples

   • My car engine blew after service who is at fault?
   • If a $4 cylinder head gasket blows, it costs the customer $1,000 in engine repairs.
   • I get a call from Building management at around 6:30pm last night and they tell me that a pipe blew and my locker downstairs was being flooded.
   • I crossed the road to Grand Central Station at 3pm, not 5pm, when the steam pipe blew.
   • At 32000 miles my engine blew.

   Synonyms

   burst, explode, blow out, split, rupture, crack, break, fly open

   puncture, get a puncture

   get a flat tyre
3. 3.3 (with reference to an electric circuit) burn out through overloading.
   no object the fuse had blown

   with object the floodlights blew a fuse

   Example sentencesExamples

   • People are here to have fun and if the fun meter had been turned on during that week in Colorado, it would have blown a 1,000-amp fuse.
   • I don't actually recommend doing this, because it may well be overloading the header and blowing one of those is a great way to ruin your afternoon and maybe your motherboard.
   • The strike shorted all the electrics and blew all the fuses.
   • A shower of sparks and the sound of electrical circuits blowing was her only reward.
   • About a year before I bought the car, it had blown out the same spark plug, and the damage had been repaired.
   • Most of Simon Fraser University's main campus was thrown into darkness when a high voltage electric cable blew last Friday.
   • I called the electricity board but once the lights went out I knew the circuit had blown itself out and the area was safe.
   • Many ideas, like one from the guy who wanted to use an electric fan to blow against a windmill and generate power, are well intentioned but downright silly.
   • It looks like when the shield generator overloaded and blew, its capacitors dumped a massive amount of energy into the ship's main power bus.

   Synonyms

   fuse, short-circuit, burn out, expire, break, go

4informal with object Spend recklessly.

5informal with object Completely bungle (an opportunity)

1. 5.1 Expose (a stratagem)
   a man whose cover was blown

   Example sentencesExamples

   • I reminded him while we exchanged numbers that he couldn't call me this weekend or my cover might be blown.
   • Basically the cover has been blown on them in front of a very important audience - international business decision makers.
   • His cover would be blown if he did something as foolish as that.
   • I wish I could write to them, but then my cover would surely be blown.
   • If a shot were fired, there cover would have been blown.
   • But where are the media, now that her cover has been blown?
   • This year that cover has been blown with ill-disguised intent.
   • Ava knew her cover would be blown in a matter of days.
   • The more people believed the headmaster, the less likely his cover was to be blown.
   • He admits there have been moments when his cover has almost been blown.
   • Now that its cover has been blown, we are assured there was nothing sinister about it.
   • She'd bring attention to herself and his cover would be blown.
   • If he stayed there too long, somebody would most definitely find him, then his cover would be blown and that would be that.
   • You are told that your cover has been blown, that your family may be at risk.
   • It also made it easier to make sure that their cover had not been blown.
   • She breathed a sigh of relief, she had almost believed her cover had been blown, but then it didn't matter really at this point.
   • My cover would be completely blown if you did that.
   • My heart clenched; neither myself or Aidan could be seen or our cover would be completely blown.
   • Doyle laughed nervously, now that his cover had been blown.
   • If she spoke one word out of turn, his cover would be blown, big time.

   Synonyms

   expose, reveal, uncover, disclose, divulge, unveil, betray, leak

6British informal with object Damn.

7vulgar slang with object Perform fellatio on (a man).

8US informal no object Be extremely bad or unwelcome.

9with object (of flies) lay eggs in or on (something).

1in singular A strong wind.

1. 1.1 An act of getting some fresh air.
   I'll go down to the sea and get a blow before supper

2An act of blowing an instrument.

1. 2.1informal A spell of playing jazz or rock music.
   Example sentencesExamples

   • One musician will then occupy the pivotal No 7 position with the other set for debut after some lusty blows last night and a mean spell of seamers.
   • target: not reached, specialist
   • The lead track is a pretty good tune for an introduction, but the blows don't connect.
2. 2.2 An act of blowing one's nose.
   give your nose a good blow

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Put a few drops in each nostril and sniff gently, then give your nose a good blow to get rid of the mucus.
   • If you've been shooting, bullet casting, or otherwise exposed to airborne lead, after washing your hands, give your nose a good blow.
   • Ferik's free hands flew into action, one grabbing his hair and wrenching his face back to hers, the other giving him a fearsome blow to his nose.
   • Go ahead and give your nose a blow or two.
   • They say - they argue that a nose blow was an all-stop signal.
3. 2.3 (in steel-making) an act of sending an air or oxygen blast through molten metal in a converter.
   Example sentencesExamples

   • This definition does not include any additional, or secondary, oxygen blows made after the primary blow.
   • In the examples provided by the inventors, ore, having a particle size distribution as indicated in the tables of the patent, is supplied during the blows as a coolant.
   • This definition does not include any additional or secondary oxygen blows made after the primary blow or the introduction of nitrogen or other inert gas through tuyeres in the bottom or bottom and sides of the vessel.
   • The majority of the emissions occur during the oxygen blow.
   • As a result of instituting a high rate of charge of the entire furnace burden and high blowing intensity in the oxygen blow of the bath, furnace productivity increased 2.5 times in 1966

3informal mass noun Cannabis or cocaine.

1A powerful stroke with a hand, weapon, or hard object.

1. 1.1 A sudden shock or disappointment.
   the news came as a crushing blow to the cast

   Example sentencesExamples

   • However, the strike has dealt a severe blow to his dreams of becoming the number-one grocery retailer.
   • To the vendors, this is a disappointment, but not too severe a blow.
   • When Durkin left the field with an ankle injury Sligo's hopes were dealt a severe blow.
   • But families and representatives of City Hall union said after the meeting the decision was a blow and disappointment.
   • That comfortable illusion was dealt a severe blow by the Equitable saga.
   • His hopes of springing a surprise were dealt a severe blow before the break when the Captain was forced to retire due to concussion.
   • David was struck with a blow of shock and horror once more.
   • The sport of cricket thrives on the competition of international teams and will no doubt be dealt a severe blow if the anticipated hostilities go on for any real length of time.
   • The man, who was dealt a severe blow on the farming front last weekend when he lost his entire herd of healthy livestock to foot and mouth, bids to bounce back at Aintree tomorrow.
   • This disappointment was a real blow for me - I'm usually a sucker for movies about seniors bonding with other species.
   • The punitive actions include economic sanctions, which are certain to deal a severe blow to the North, which desperately needs global aid.
   • Exhausted by these efforts, he was then dealt a terrible blow by the sudden death in May of his beloved elder sister Fanny.
   • Coming on top of two decades of civil war, the tidal waves dealt a severe blow to the health sector along the coastal Ampara district.
   • I'm not too deeply saddened by the news but it did come as a sudden blow to the vitals.
   • The so-called reforms have dealt a severe blow to the living standards of tens of millions of workers, small businessmen and farmers, the urban and rural poor.
   • The assassins struck the most important person from the Council and thereby dealt them a severe blow.
   • Given the increasingly run-down nature of these command economies, the oil price shocks dealt a crucial blow to regimes running an already bankrupt economic system.
   • The decline in status that colonial life entailed must have dealt a severe blow to their aspirations.
   • Those of us who seek to show that the extremists are the exception, not the rule, and that mainstream practitioners pose no threat to democracy, have been dealt a severe blow.
   • He was dealt a disappointing blow here yesterday when the group failed to justify hefty support.

   Synonyms

   shock, surprise, bombshell, bolt from the blue, bolt out of the blue, thunderbolt, jolt, rude awakening

   calamity, catastrophe, disaster, upset, misfortune, setback, disturbance, source of distress, disappointment, let-down

   informal whammy

Produce flowers or be in flower.

The state or period of flowering.