bloody nose
Used figuratively to mean a minor defeat, setback, or humiliation — especially one that causes damage without being decisive.
Seen in the wild
OK, but like, I woke up with a bad bloody nose for some reason (thanks, allergy season), and I don't feel great about my lesson plan for class, so I really think I should get the day off.
🤔 Are those the jeans with the blood 🩸 on them from his bloody nose? 😂😱
I simply did not get stung I did sneeze my way into a bloody nose but that was after they left
Definitions
Used figuratively to mean a minor defeat, setback, or humiliation — especially one that causes damage without being decisive. The phrase implies the injured party has been hurt but not finished off. Common in political journalism and sports commentary when describing a narrow loss or a significant rebuff that falls short of total defeat.
The by-election result gave the governing party a bloody nose without threatening their overall majority.
Comments
(colloquial) A minor defeat.
“OK, but like, I woke up with a bad bloody nose for some reason (thanks, allergy season), and I don't feel great about my lesson plan for class, so I really think I should get the day off.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“🤔 Are those the jeans with the blood 🩸 on them from his bloody nose? 😂😱”
— Bluesky· May 2026“I simply did not get stung I did sneeze my way into a bloody nose but that was after they left”
— Bluesky· May 2026
Comments
Have a better definition?
Add your own interpretation of "bloody nose".
🗺️About Regional & Other slang
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.
Tags
Other words near "bloody nose" (B)
Browse all slang words starting with B.
Related terms
People also read
Semantically related
- nosebleed68%
(Philippines, figurative, slang) Mental overload .
- blood nose64%
(Australia) A nose that is bleeding internally.
- blood nose63%
(Australia) A haemorrhage from the nose; a nosebleed.
- nosebleed seat63%
(North America) A seat in the nosebleed section, usually cheaper and with a poorer view than other seats.