first blood

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English

Pronunciation

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Noun

first blood (uncountable)

  1. The condition in a duel in which the first one to draw blood from the other wins.
  2. The first damage or reverse inflicted on an opponent in a conflict.
    • 1879, Ed James, The Lives and Battles of the Champions of England, page 39:
      Sayers won first blood by cutting Crouch's right eye, and the battle by knocking his man out with a nose-ender in 12 minutes 28 seconds, 6 rounds being fought.
    • Rambo - They drew first blood, not me.
      Trautman - Look Johnny, let me come in and get you the hell out of there!
      Rambo - They drew first blood...
      Trautman - Rambo, are you still reading me? Covey leader to Raven! Rambo! Acknowledge!
      http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083944/quotes
    • 2019 February 27, Drachinifel, 18:01 from the start, in The Battle of Samar - Odds? What are those?, archived from the original on 3 November 2022:
      Johnston, meanwhile, has managed to get within five miles of its target, and fires a full spread of ten torpedoes. Minutes later, at least two, possibly three, tear the bow off the hapless cruiser Kumano. First blood, unbelievably, therefore, goes to the Americans.
  3. (sports) The first score in a competition.

See also