death blow

death blow

1. A hit or impact that causes immediate death. The warrior swiftly dealt a death blow to his adversary on the battlefield.
2. An event that causes the abrupt end of something. His arrest and subsequent conviction was a death blow to his successful career as an attorney. Despite the company's recent success, the massive recall proved to be its death blow.
See also: blow, death
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a death blow

If something is a death blow to a process, situation, or organization, it causes it to end or fail. This could deal a death blow to the collapsing national economy. They warned that the deportations would be a death blow to the peace process.
See also: blow, death
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • a death blow
  • be a square peg
  • be a square peg (in a round hole)
  • a political football
  • a domino effect
  • domino
  • domino effect
  • (something) is no object
  • be in good with (someone)
  • by the same token
References in classic literature
But so cunningly did he twine and wreathe his body about his captor's that the death blow could not be struck.
South Sea Tales
Getting more men involved offensively on Sunday night, San Miguel Beer took command late in the third period and held on in Game 4 of its PBA Commissioner's Cup title series against TNT, effectively dodging the death blow while regaining psychological edge in the best-of-seven series.
SMB levels series
If the potential threat of tampering EVM during post poll is going unchecked, then it will be a death blow to democracy, said the plea.
Petition filed in SC seeking direction for EC to ensure safety,security of EVMs in post poll phase
They have adopted a step by step approach with one goal: to bury the Palestinians cause once and for all, and they believe now is the best time for the death blow
Partners in crime
It would be a death blow to the vision of its founder if the party were to swerve to the right or not do justice by the people in whose name it was created.
Bhutto's legacy
It was on to the lottery of penalties then and Joshua Lynch was the unlucky man as Connolly saved his effort while the Mallards netted all five - Campbell holding his nerve to strike the death blow.
MALLARDS MAKE HISTORY
class="MsoNormalThen came the death blow ndash an officer aiming and landing his club on the weak head of Baby Samantha Pendo with force.
Pendo inquest verdict strikes blow for justice
Rice said Trump "has dealt the death blow to effective policymaking."
Susan Rice: Trump Doing More to Undermine National Security than Any Foreign Adversary
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) which has emerged victorious in the elections according to preliminary results, dealt a death blow to MQM-P in Karachi , which had long been a Muttahida stronghold.
MQM-P's Dr Farooq Sattar suffers unprecedented defeat
We already got a death blow in GE14, and yet we're still deaf to the people,' added the Rembau MP, referring to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Go right-wing and collapse in 15 years, Khairy warns Umno
Sugar imports have dealt a death blow to West Kenya Sugar Factory, which is the only stable sugar factory in the whole of Western Kenya.
Expert comment: Stop sugar imports, they're killing Western economy
Bruce stabbed Comyn but it was Kirkpatrick who is claimed to have dealt the final death blow after proclaiming the famous words"I Mak Siccar" (I'll make sure).
Ghostly goings-on
SUPREME Court will hear a case this term that could deliver a death blow to the legal privileges enjoyed by public sector unions.
PUBLIC SECTOR UNIONS ON TRIAL
The assassination of Ali Abdullah Saleh has struck a death blow to the sliver of hope for peace in Yemen.
Saleh's death will push Yemen deeper into violence