"If the government abandons steps to support the economy, it would be a harsh blow," he said.

The Iraq war could prove an especially harsh economic blow.

These terms were a harsh blow to a young ruler.

But Nafai hardly had time to hear it before he felt a harsh blow.

For a girl so tender-hearted, that would come as a harsh blow.

And one thing is clear- we have been struck a harsh blow.

This is a harsh blow to European integration - one that it scarcely needed.

Mediterranean products have been unfairly treated and we must not deal them any more harsh blows.

He said such a failure would be a harsh blow to the Russian economy and to future efforts to set up stabilization funds.

Disengagement is a harsh blow for me, but I had to make the decision.