I. adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a blunt refusal (= honest and direct but likely to upset someone )
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A blunt refusal to help will simply damage relations further.
Blunt, James
blunt (= not sharp )
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The knife was so blunt it wouldn't cut anything.
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ NOUN
end
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I had to catch up the axe and hit him with the blunt end , knock him out.
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These lads were the blunt end of a much nastier problem.
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Run the blunt end of the bone folder along the groove that forms the hinge.
instrument
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I sometimes think a blunt instrument would do some good for her.
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While the men exchanged blows the girl struck Farini from behind with a blunt instrument .
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After a while they kidnap and murder a young boy for kicks, bashing him over the head with a blunt instrument .
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The blunt instrument obstinately refused to reveal itself and he doubted if there were any more revelations to be got out of anybody.
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This is a very blunt instrument .
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The cause of death had been the terrible bludgeoning he had received from a blunt instrument .
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She looked around for a blunt instrument .
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All the injuries were consistent with an enraged and merciless attack with a blunt instrument .
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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blunt criticism
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His response was a blunt "no."
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I'll be blunt . It's just not going to work.
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I cut myself shaving with a blunt razor.
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It's difficult to achieve a good result if you use blunt tools.
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Maria can be very blunt and sometimes shocks people who don't know her well.
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Police say the victim was hit with a blunt instrument, possibly a hammer.
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The victim was hit on the head with a blunt object.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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After a while they kidnap and murder a young boy for kicks, bashing him over the head with a blunt instrument.
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Call her candid, a straight shooter, rather than blunt .
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His poems can be awkward and blunt but you feel any revision has been towards truth rather than beauty.
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These lads were the blunt end of a much nastier problem.
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Yet he was cagey and knew when to be blunt .
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You don't have to be madly blunt in a political sense.
II. verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ NOUN
edge
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I slotted in well, but all that vending blunted my edges and did my head in.
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They would dilute the quality of his product, blunting a competitive edge .
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The bare infinitive would blunt the sharp edge of this expressive effect.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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His senses were blunted by the whiskey.
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The latest bombing has blunted residents' hopes for peace.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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I slotted in well, but all that vending blunted my edges and did my head in.
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Methodological difficulties have, however, blunted the phenomenological critique.
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Perhaps his arid years in suburbia had blunted his ability to love and be loved.
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That blunts performance and hits fuel economy.
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The alcohol had blunted the need for violence, but hadn't removed it.
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The sickening feel of woollen gloves being pulled on to your hands and hitting and blunting your fingertips so touch was lost.
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While the scene is meant to scare us, it also contains a built-in warning device that blunts the shock.