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At first blush

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

An idiom meaning upon initial impression or glance, before deeper consideration; in poetry, it signals the beginning of reflection, the contrast between surface and depth, and the fallibility of first judgments.

Detailed Definition
At first blush captures superficial appearances, a tool for poets to contrast first judgments with revealed truths in themes of perception and deception.
Example
Example in poetry:
Poets employ it for perception shifts: "At first blush the wound seemed fatal to rhyme, yet healing came."; Teaches layers of observation in descriptive poetry.
Additional Notes
Notes for "at first blush" focus on superficial judgment, valuable for perception themes in ekphrastic or psychological poetry. Usage tip: Follow with revelation for depth. Related: "head in the clouds." Academics use it to teach layered reading, aiding students in unpacking irony, first impressions in narrative voice, and epistemological questions in modernist and postmodern works.
Also Known As
at first glance initially on first impression at first sight prima facie
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