Draw blood

verb

verb ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To wound one's opponent in such a way that they bleed.

    "to draw first blood"

  2. 2
    To have an injurious effect; to strike home, as a barb or insult. figuratively

    "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."

Example

More examples

"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."

Etymology

From Middle English drawe blood.