A fatal or decisive blow; something that causes the complete failure or end of something.
From death (Old English deaþ) + blow (Old English blawan, to strike). Originally meant a literal blow that causes death, but evolved to metaphorically mean any action that destroys something.
We use 'deathblow' metaphorically all the time—'The scandal dealt a deathblow to his career'—but it's a striking reminder that many English metaphors come directly from violence and physical combat.
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