blindside
Americanverb (used with object)
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Sports. to tackle, hit, or attack (an opponent) from the blind side.
The quarterback was blindsided and had the ball knocked out of his hand.
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to attack critically where a person is vulnerable, uninformed, etc..
The president was blindsided by the press on the latest tax bill.
Etymology
Origin of blindside
First recorded in 1970–75; verb use of noun phrase blind side
Explanation
To blindside is to launch a surprise attack, especially one that comes from an obstructed or hidden place. Your video game army might blindside your friend's army, resulting in your victory. If you come up from behind your brother and shove him, you can say that you blindside him. There is also a more figurative way to blindside someone — simply to do or say something the person is utterly unprepared for. You could blindside your family, for example, by suddenly announcing that you're moving to China. The oldest use of blindside as a verb, around 1968, referred to a football tackle.
Vocabulary lists containing blindside
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life
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Lyrics from "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)" by Baz Luhrmann
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Five Feet Apart
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Blindside blocks: On punt and kick returns, officials will be watching for blockers hitting opponents in the head and/or neck area.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 6, 2016
Blindside flanker Murphy, who was only called into the squad this week, occupies the place left vacant by O'Mahony, whose World Cup ended when he suffered a knee injury in the same game.
From BBC • Oct. 16, 2015
Blindside protector Ryan Clady is the only member of Denver’s remodeled offensive line returning to the same position in 2015.
From Washington Times • Apr. 15, 2015
Blindside flanker: Chris Robshaw Everything that's good about rugby in Britain.
From The Guardian • May 24, 2012
In a post titled "Why We Often Blindside Companies," Arrington wrote that by failing to filter her news through TechCrunch, Fake had landed herself in the blog's doghouse.
From Slate • Sep. 8, 2011
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
