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draw blood

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Etymology

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From Middle English drawe blood.

Verb

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draw blood (third-person singular simple present draws blood, present participle drawing blood, simple past drew blood, past participle drawn blood)

  1. To wound one's opponent in such a way that they bleed.
    to draw first blood
  2. (figuratively) To have an injurious effect; to strike home, as a barb or insult.
    • 1966, Stringfellow Barr, The Mask of Jove:
      He lacked the art of wounding with the sword, and in any case his critics charged that he shrank from steel; but his invective was worthy of Demosthenes and his words drew blood.

References

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