Meaning of blunt instrument | Babel Free

Definitions

1. An object lacking sharp surfaces, especially as used to cause injury.
   literally
2. A thing, person, method, or resource which is not sufficiently precise or not sufficiently effective for its intended role or use.
   figuratively

Equivalents

Examples

“One deep wound had been inflicted upon the temple, apparently with some blunt instrument, which had penetrated the brain.”

“It had been struck by some heavy blunt instrument, but the skull was not broken.”

“The analyst is in a sense a blunt instrument, but he can work as somebody who cares, and I think a good analyst makes the patient feel that he has value.”

“The law is a woefully blunt instrument when it comes to domestic violence of all kinds.”

“[T]he United States will continue to rely on dollar depreciation as a blunt instrument to fight all its economic battles.”

“If Mr. Mubarak's Egypt has resorted to the traditional blunt instrument against dissent in a crisis — cutting off communications altogether — other countries have shown greater sophistication.”

“Operational managers are removing trains from the timetable with the aim of reducing traincrew and rolling stock costs. This is a blunt instrument that without careful assessment removes connecting services and causes the loss of trains required for school or work arrival times.”

CEFR level