hammer blow

noun

1. a blow from a hammer

2. a severe shock or setback

   Liam's death was a hammer blow

Example Sentences

This defeat is not a hammer blow to England's World Cup chances, but it is a timely reminder - not only to them - of how perfect you have to be to dismantle the greatest to ever do it.

Read more on BBC

However, World Cup holders Australia have been dealt a hammer blow by losing their captain and the tournament's leading run-scorer Alyssa Healy to a calf injury, which will force them to rejig their line-up with Georgia Voll likely to open, Tahlia McGrath to captain and Beth Mooney to keep wicket.

Read more on BBC

The tariffs are a hammer blow for India’s biggest exporters, including apparel manufacturers, furniture makers, shrimp farms and diamond traders.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Spurs believe they did all they could to conclude a deal - apart from actually concluding it - but it is a hammer blow to chairman Daniel Levy and manager Thomas Frank, who also thought they had a deal for Morgan Gibbs-White in the bag only for him to sign a new contract at Nottingham Forest.

Read more on BBC

"It is a hammer blow for India. The atmosphere would have been unbelievable for India tonight. They were so on top, the only way England could get a run away was a leg-bye."

Read more on BBC