Blow a hole in the bow

[motico]

What is the meaning of the expression in bold? Could it be used allegorically? Thanks!

"The ship almost sank in a Cyprus port when a mysterious explosion blew a hole in the bow, seriously damaging it."

[Raymott]

What is the meaning of the expression in bold? Could it be used allegorically? Thanks!

"The ship almost sank in a Cyprus port when a mysterious explosion blew a hole in the bow, seriously damaging it."

It depends. Was the explosion allegorical? (Do you mean metaphorical?)
I think it far more likely that the sentence is referring to a real explosion that caused a real hole with real damage. Is there any context that would suggest that the sentence is not meant literally?

[motico]

It depends. Was the explosion allegorical? (Do you mean metaphorical?)
I think it far more likely that the sentence is referring to a real explosion that caused a real hole with real damage. Is there any context that would suggest that the sentence is not meant literally?

I have no problem to understand the expression in this context. My question is if the expression has a metaphorical meaning as well. One of the dictionaries suggests:

blow a hole in[v. show that someone is not true, show that a person is not right

[Raymott]

I have no problem to understand the expression in this context. My question is if the expression has a metaphorical meaning as well. One of the dictionaries suggests:

blow a hole in[v. show that someone is not true, show that a person is not right

I see. Yes, you can "blow a hole" in my argument, by coming up with a demonstrable and devastating proof against the position I take.
But you have 'bow' bolded too in the original. I haven't heard of someone blowing a hole in the bow of something abstract.

[Barb_D]

If there is a reference to the bow of ship, to an explosion that created a hole in that bow, to serious damage, and to almost sinking, I don't see anything metaphorical.

Do you know that the "bow" is the front of a ship?

[motico]

If there is a reference to the bow of ship, to an explosion that created a hole in that bow, to serious damage, and to almost sinking, I don't see anything metaphorical.

Do you know that the "bow" is the front of a ship?

I know. I just wanted, by the way, to understand the metaphorical meaning of the expression: "to blow a hole" . Thanks.