draw first blood

/dɹˈɔː fˈɜːst blˈʌd/

[phrase]

to draw first blood

[PHRASE]

to be the first person or team that obtains an advantage over a competitor in any contest

to [draw] first blood definition and meaning

What is the origin of the idiom "draw first blood" and when to use it?

The origin of the phrase comes from the practice of hunting, where the first person to draw blood from an animal was considered to have made the first successful attack. The phrase has since been adopted into common usage to describe any situation where someone gains an early advantage over their opponent.

Examples

1. Despite their best efforts, our team wasn't able to draw first blood in the game and fell behind early.

2. During the negotiations, the union was able to gain the upper hand when they drew first blood by presenting a compelling argument for their demands.

3. Underclassmen draw first blood.

4. "They drew first blood, not me."

Nearby words