first blood
Britishnoun
-
the first killing or wounding in a fight or war
-
the first damage or reverse inflicted on an opponent in a conflict
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.
The findings suggest that early animals created the first blood cells by reusing genetic material inherited from ancient single-celled ancestors.
From Science Daily ● May 27, 2026
Pegula swung the momentum her way and drew first blood in the final set, opening up a 4-1 gap with an inch-perfect lob.
From Barron's ● Feb. 20, 2026
The Springboks drew first blood and, given it was so early, it was a grim beginning for Scotland.
From BBC ● Nov. 10, 2024
Williams had drawn first blood with a right-footed shot from the center of the box five minutes earlier.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2023
The lab in Kinshasa ruined his first blood sample and asked us to send another, so the results on what diseases Otto might have weren’t in yet.
From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer
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.
