fatal blow
The finishing hit
A fatal blow is a strike that causes death, whether literally or figuratively.
In combat or violence, it's the blow that kills: The fatal blow came from behind.
More often figurative—the decisive action that destroys something: The scandal dealt a fatal blow to his campaign.
The phrase emphasizes finality; after a fatal blow, there's no recovery.
- deathblowFinal, fatal stroke
- knockoutIncapacitating final blow
- finishing moveDecisive combat-ending technique
- coup de grâceMerciful finishing blow
- lethalCausing or capable of death
mortal wound · decisive · crushing · devastating · one-two punch · final · last straw · death knell · kiss of death · knockout punch · sword · dagger · strike · execution · collapse · point of no return · end · sudden death
- finishing blowsdeathblow, finisher, finishing move, kill shot, knockout
- executionsexecution, execution chamber, hanging, guillotine, executioner
- combatbattle, fight, combat, unarmed combat, grappling
fatal blowflesh wound
Shallow cut, no organs
love tap · glancing blow · scratch · graze · nick
fatal blowlifeline
Essential connection to safety
saving grace · reprieve · stay of execution · second chance · shot in the arm
fatal, blow, fatally, fatality, fatalities, fate, fated, fateful, fatefully