shed blood

1. To wound or kill someone violently, often by inflicting wounds in which blood literally spills out of the body. A noun or pronoun can be used between "shed" and "blood." The soldier was arrested and court-martialed for shedding blood in the village near the military encampment. I will not rest until I find who is responsible for shedding these people's blood.

2. To sustain serious (and perhaps fatal) injuries, often wounds in which blood literally spills out of the body. A noun or pronoun can be used between "shed" and "blood." I've never shed blood before, so it made my stomach turn to see it pouring out of me. These brave soldiers shed their blood to protect our freedom.

See also: blood, shed

shed blood

Also, spill blood. Wound or kill someone, especially violently. For example, It was a bitter fight but fortunately no blood was shed, or A great deal of blood has been spilled in this family feud. Both of these terms allude to causing blood to flow and fall on the ground. The first dates from the 1200s. The variant amplifies the verb spill, which from about 1300 to 1600 by itself meant "slay" or "kill"; it was first recorded about 1125.

See also: blood, shed

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

shed (someone's) blood

To wound someone or take someone's life, especially with violence.

See also: blood, shed

shed blood

1. To wound or kill in a violent manner.

2. To be wounded or killed: "For he today that sheds his blood with me / Shall be my brother" (Shakespeare).

See also: blood, shed

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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References in periodicals archive

Tikrit / NINA /--Preacher of Friday prayers in Samara Sheikh Mohammed Taha Hamdoun held in his sermon,the commander in chief of the armed forces, Nouri al-Maliki responsible for the recent security breaches in Baghdad and other provinces, accusing the government of being "insulting people and shed blood of protesters and raping women," he said.

Khatib Samarra holds the commander in chief of the armed forces responsible for recent security breaches

But I shed blood for this campaign, and I'm glad to know that I did all that I could," he added.

Man who tattooed face with Romney logo says life has turned to living hell!

North East-born Fusiliers have shed blood in almost every theatre of war since 1674.

Sign our petition to help save Fusiliers; [c]COMMENT

These political groups, whether belonging to the April 6 Movement, Socialist Revolutionaries, political movements and supporters of Hazem Salah Abu-Ismail, refused to admit that they allowed armed thugs and anarchists to infiltrate their protests and shed blood in Abbasiya.

Footnotes

The president affirmed keenness not to shed blood up to now, saying he prevented soldiers from shooting fire, even if they attacked.

President Saleh visits Republican Guards 4th brigade

Sharihan added that the people of Egypt have shed blood in their fight to achieve democracy and if she wasn't suffering from cancer she would donate her blood to save those wounded in the protests.

Sharihan wishes to donate her blood for Egypt

The payment that Jesus made through his shed blood was a larger payment than many fundamentalists have seemed to think.

A larger payment

However, as this show has proven, there are plenty of brave souls who are more than prepared to shed blood, sweat and tears to make their aspiration of fame and fortune a reality, and the time has come for the nation to choose their favourite dancer from the remaining competitors.

Winter Olympics: Opening Ceremony BBC2, [...]

I've learned there are millions of men who are absolutely, crazily willing to shed blood, draw blood and die for their cause, however weird, ridiculous and twisted it is.

A PhD from the U of HK

BABYSHAMBLES drummer Adam Ficek has shed blood, sweat and tears on tour with singer Pete Doherty.

Life's a bed of Roses on my tour bus; 0-60 SECOND INTERVIEW

A custom-designed sucker facilitates heparin being delivered to the operation site so that shed blood (which is immediately sucked away) is mixed with anticoagulant.

Cell-salvage techniques--a practical approach

To see if the puppets shed blood, visit www.lincolncenter.org.

Petrushka with a Twist