blow¹

  • verb (past blew; past part. blown) 1 (of wind) move creating an air current. 2 propel or be propelled by the wind. 3 expel air through pursed lips. 4 force air through the mouth into (an instrument) to make a sound. 5 sound (the horn of a vehicle). 6 (of an explosion) displace violently. 7 burst or burn out through pressure or overheating. 8 force air through a tube into (molten glass) to create an artefact. 9 informal spend (money) recklessly. informal completely bungle (an opportunity). informal expose (a stratagem): his cover was blown.

  • noun 1 a strong wind. 2 an act of blowing.

  — PHRASES blow a fuse (or gasket) informal lose one’s temper. blow away informal kill by shooting. blow hot and cold vacillate. blow someone’s mind informal impress or affect someone very strongly. blow one’s nose clear one’s nose of mucus by blowing through it. blow off informal 1 lose one’s temper and shout. 2 break wind noisily. blow over (of trouble) fade away without serious consequences. blow one’s top informal lose one’s temper. blow up 1 explode. 2 lose one’s temper. 3 (of a wind or storm) begin to develop. 4 (of a scandal or dispute) emerge or become public. 5 inflate.

  — ORIGIN Old English.

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