draw blood

idiom

1
: to take blood from a person's body for medical reasons
We need to draw some blood to test you for the virus.
2
: to cause blood to flow from a person's body
The punch to the nose drew blood.
sometimes used figuratively to suggest intensity or aggressiveness
Some politicians view debates as chances to draw blood from their opponents.

Examples of draw blood in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The tiny sensor sits on your arm and doesn’t require you to draw blood. Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025 In the most recent episode, the clans form a temporary détente at the funeral of Tommy Stevenson (Felix Edwards), with Conrad’s devious wife Maeve (Helen Mirren) scheming to draw blood behind his back. Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025 But testing options have long been limited: Typically, doctors either draw blood to measure levels of immune cells or antibodies, or have children breathe into a mouthpiece to measure the nitric oxide in their breath. Aria Bendix, NBC News, 2 Jan. 2025 During plasma exchange, clinicians draw blood, then separate out and discard its plasma. Jamie Ducharme, Health, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for draw blood

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Draw blood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/draw%20blood. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!