But cocoa production, once a major part of the Brazilian economy, has suffered a catastrophic blow from an accidentally introduced fungus disease.

Armond White, a film critic, noted that this was "a catastrophic blow to the development of American popular culture."

In all, Honduras received a catastrophic blow from this storm, with death toll estimates between 1,000 and 3,000 people.

"This is almost a catastrophic blow to the whole aid effort in the east," said Peter Kessler, a spokesman for the United Nations refugee agency.

But would that tie in with the catastrophic blow that stopped her heart?

I felt the lack of the nomination for best musical was a catastrophic blow to us.

When a slanderous letter reaches his hands, their relationship suffers a catastrophic blow.

In fairness to the owners, the union was threatening another strike in 2002, another catastrophic blow.

With the election results, the Communists suffered a catastrophic blow to their legitimacy.

Just when life seems to be rolling along in a fairly manageable way, fate steps in and deals a catastrophic blow.