Despite the threats, Elizalde did sing it and was killed; his slaying served as a symbolic blow of the Gulf cartel against the Sinaloa organization.

While the downgrade was expected, analysts said it could be more than a symbolic blow.

By winnowing out 350 workers, and eliminating chauffeur-driven limousines for three senior officials, he has struck a symbolic blow against perks and for frugality.

The most symbolic blow struck between these ancient rivals this regular season will be the one yesterday by Knoblauch.

They had not only struck an important symbolic blow against the Klingons, they had clearly destroyed valuable resources.

It would be a symbolic blow to Jiang and his Government if the first were to be shared by two dissidents who had spent years in jail.

The long-expected move will make Rockwell the state's fourth-largest public company, based on its 1987 revenue of $12 billion, but it comes as a symbolic blow to Pittsburgh.

The Sardaukar were representatives of the Emperor - giving Dominic Vernius the opportunity to strike a deadly, symbolic blow.

But the chancellor's decision is a symbolic blow to the Boy Scouts, aligning the nation's largest school system, with more than one million students, against the group.