The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word GLANCING
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
G
L
A
N
C
I
N
G
More clues leading to the result GLANCING
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "such blows" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case such blows = glancing.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does GLANCING mean?
GLANCING verb- To look briefly (at something).
- To graze a surface.
- To sparkle.
- To move quickly, appearing and disappearing rapidly; to be visible only for an instant at a time; to move interruptedly; to twinkle.
- To strike and fly off in an oblique direction; to dart aside.
- To hit lightly with the head, make a deft header.
- To make an incidental or passing reflection; to allude; to hint; often with at.
- A type of interaction between parent fish and offspring in which juveniles swim toward and rapidly touch the sides of the parent, in most cases feeding on parental mucus. Relatively few species glance, mainly some Cichlidae.
- A sideways look; a glance.
- Making superficial, obtuse contact with something.