To come to blows

To come to blows
Blow Blow, n. [OE. blaw, blowe; cf. OHG. bliuwan, pliuwan, to beat, G. bl["a]uen, Goth. bliggwan.] 1. A forcible stroke with the hand, fist, or some instrument, as a rod, a club, an ax, or a sword. [1913 Webster]

Well struck ! there was blow for blow. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. A sudden or forcible act or effort; an assault. [1913 Webster]

A vigorous blow might win [Hanno's camp]. --T. Arnold. [1913 Webster]

3. The infliction of evil; a sudden calamity; something which produces mental, physical, or financial suffering or loss (esp. when sudden); a buffet. [1913 Webster]

A most poor man, made tame to fortune's blows. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{At a blow}, suddenly; at one effort; by a single vigorous act. ``They lose a province at a blow.'' --Dryden.

{To come to blows}, to engage in combat; to fight; -- said of individuals, armies, and nations. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Stroke; knock; shock; misfortune. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • come to blows (over something) — come to ˈblows (over sth) idiom to start fighting because of sth • We almost came to blows over what colour the new carpet should be. Main entry: ↑blowidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • come to blows — index fight (battle) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • come to blows — ► come to blows start fighting after a disagreement. Main Entry: ↑blow …   English terms dictionary

  • come to blows — phrasal : to carry a disagreement to the point of physical violence * * * come to blows (of people quarrelling) to start fighting • • • Main Entry: ↑blow * * * come to blows phrase if two people come to blows, they start hitting each other It… …   Useful english dictionary

  • come to blows — if two people come to blows, they start hitting each other It sounded as if they were about to come to blows …   English dictionary

  • come to blows —    If two or more people come to blows, they start to fight.     The debate was so intense that the participants almost came to blows …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • come to blows — to have a fight or a serious argument with someone. Demonstrators nearly came to blows with the police during the march. It seems increasingly unlikely that the two countries will come to blows over this latest territorial dispute (often + over) …   New idioms dictionary

  • come to blows — verb To fight; to initiate physical conflict, especially subsequent to escalating tension or antagonism. Ill follow you, Floating Tom, into the Mingo camp, on such an arrnd, and will strive to do my duty, should we come to blows; though, never… …   Wiktionary

  • To come to blows — Come Come, v. i. [imp. {Came}; p. p. {Come}; p. pr & vb. n. {Coming}.] [OE. cumen, comen, AS. cuman; akin to OS.kuman, D. komen, OHG. queman, G. kommen, Icel. koma, Sw. komma, Dan. komme, Goth. giman, L. venire (gvenire), Gr. ? to go, Skr. gam.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • come to blows — {v. phr.} To begin to fight. * /The two quarreling boys came to blows after school./ * /The two countries came to blows because one wanted to be independent from the other./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

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