It was all well and good to let them strike the first blow, but if they hit us hard below the belt, we should take an ax and cut their hands off.

让他们先下手为强也就罢了，但如果他们暗中狠狠地打击我们的要害，我们就应该拿起一把斧头砍断他们的手。

youdao

The first blow is half the battle.

良好的开端，就是成功了一半。 。

youdao

The first blow put him on the floor.

第一击，将他砸倒在地上。

youdao

The first blow landed on the evening of February 8, when R&B star Rihanna cancelled her performance at the Grammy Awards ceremony.

VOA: standard.2009.12.25

He doesn't at first hear the horn fail to blow, and then later, when a truck pulls up behind him, he fails to hear a horn that does blow: He was looking at the sign, and he didn't hear the horn.

在一开始,是他没有注意到这点，到后来卡车停在身后时，他连响的喇叭都听不到了：,“他看着那个标牌，以至于没听到喇叭声。

耶鲁公开课 - 1945年后的美国小说课程节选

And, if so, was the blackout but the first blow in a lethal one-two punch?

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: The Next Blackout

Scotland struck the first blow in the 16th minute after Contepomi dragged his first penalty attempt wide.

CNN: Argentina clinch final semi place

The Chicago Blitz struck the first blow, signing a highly coveted Ohio State running back named Tim Spencer.

WSJ: Remembering the Late, Great USFL