Definition of blunt instrument

The phrase "blunt instrument" is often used to describe an object or method that is unrefined, crude, or lacking in finesse. Its origin can be traced back to the medical field of the 19th century. At that time, the commonly used instrument for crushing pills or bones was a wooden mallet, known as a "crusher." However, some physicians found this tool to be too brutal and preferred a less forceful way of breaking up these items. In response, they started using shorter, blunter wooden rods, such as the handle of a surgeon's scalpel or a mallet that had been trimmed down. Because these new tools were less precise and less finessed than the traditional "crusher," they came to be referred to as "blunt instruments." The phrase eventually made its way out of the medical context and into popular usage as a metaphor for any unrefined, heavy-handed approach to problem-solving.