a blow driven to the opponent's body between the breastbone and the navel.
2.
any action that causes severe damage, losses, etc.:
Our business received a body blow in the recession.
Origin
1785-95
British Dictionary definitions for body blow
body blow
noun
1.
(boxing) Also called body punch. a blow to the body of an opponent
2.
a severe disappointment or setback: unavailability of funds was a body blow to the project
Idioms and Phrases with body blow
body blow
An action that causes severe damage, as in This last recession dealt a body blow to our whole industry. This term comes from boxing, where since the 18th century it has been used to refer to a punch that is landing between the opponent's chest and navel. [ c. 1900 ]