English

Prepositional phrase

at first blush

1. (idiomatic) Upon first impression or consideration; seemingly, apparently, ostensibly.
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   • 1990, Nicolas Wolfson, Corporate First Amendment: Rights and the Sec, Quorum Books (1990), ISBN 0899304508, page 1:

     At first blush it appears rather strange to consider for even a moment the possibility that corporate financial and business disclosure rises to the dignity of speech protected by the First Amendment.

   • 2002, Clarence A. Bonnen, ‎Daniel E. Flage, Descartes and Method: A Search for a Method in Meditations, page 100:

     Third, it is only at first blush that one finds no exercises in conceptual elucidation

   • 2008, Dennis Martin Altman, The First Liberal: A Secular Look at Jesus' Socio-Political Ideas and How They Become the Basis of Modern Liberalism, iUniverse (2008), ISBN 9780595430536, page 47:

     That may sound innocent at first blush, but a phrase like "American leadership is good … for the world" is a signal that these people want to impose their will on others; and when military strength and moral principle are added, the caution flag must be raised.

   • 2012, Cynthia Garner, Secret of the Wolf, Forever (2012), ISBN 9781455510764, unnumbered page:

     At first blush it seemed the attacks by the werewolf were random.

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