blowv.¹

Brit.

/bləʊ/, U.S.

/bloʊ/

Forms: Past tense blew. Past participle blown (also in sense 29 blowed). Forms: Old English bláwan, Middle English blawen, (Middle English blauwen), blouwen, Middle English bloawen, Middle English blowen, blowyn, Middle English–1600s blowe, Middle English– blow; (northern) Middle English blau, Middle English–1500s blawe, Middle English– blaw. past tense Old English bleów, bléw, Middle English bleu, Middle English blwe, bleeȝ, bleȝ, Middle English blu, Middle English blue, Middle English–1500s blewe, Middle English– blew. Also Middle English blowide, 1600s blowd, blowede, 1500s– blowed. past participle Old English bláwen, blouen, Middle English–1600s blowen, 1500s–1600s blowne, 1600s– blown; also Middle English y-blowe, blowun, blowe, Middle English–1500s i-blowe, 1600s bloun; northernMiddle English blaun, Middle English blawun, Middle English blawen, 1500s blawne, blawin, blauen, blaw, 1500s– blawn. Also 1500s– blowed.

Etymology: Old English bláwan, past tense bléow, participle bláwen, elsewhere as a strong verb only in Old High German blâ(h)an (past participle blâhan, blân) < Gothic type *blaian, *baiblô, Germanic ? *blæ̂jan, cognate with Latin flāre to blow. (In Old High German this, like other verbs with ai in Gothic, passed into the weak conjugation blâen, blâhen, blâjen, blâwen, blân, Middle High German blæjen, blæwen, blæn, German blähen.) In Old English only in a few senses: see 1, 2, 14; but an immense development of sense and constructions has taken place in middle and modern English, and in later times distinct senses have influenced each other, or run together, in a manner difficult to exhibit in a linear series.

I. To produce a current of air; to set in motion with a current of air.

* intransitively.

a. intransitive. The proper verb naming the motion or action of the wind, or of an aerial current. Sometimes with subject it, as ‘it blows hard’, and often with complement, as ‘it blew a gale, a hurricane’. to blow great guns: to blow a violent gale. to blow up: to rise, increase in force of blowing.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > blow (of the wind) [verb (intransitive)]

blowc1000

standc1275

waffc1440

respire?a1475

fan1600

suffle1622

the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > breaking or cracking > break [verb (intransitive)] > shatter or break to pieces or burst > blow up or explode

to blow up1697

to blow sky-high1823

poof1915

the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > blow (of the wind) [verb (intransitive)] > blow strongly > increase

rise?1520

fresh1599

to come up1647

freshen1669

ascend1715

to get up1834

to blow up1840

stiffen1844

to breeze up1867

to pipe up1901

c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Luke (Corpus Cambr.) xii. 55 Þonne ge geseoð suðan blawan.

c1175 Lamb. Hom. 167 Lutel he hit scaweð..hu biter wind þer blaweð.

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 101 Ȝef awint blaweð alute towart us.

a1300 Cursor Mundi 532 Wynd þat blaws o loft.

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Ecclus. xliii. 22 The cold northerne wind bleeȝ [a1425 L.V. blew].

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 130 Il uente, it bloweth.

1574 J. Baret Aluearie B 765 I turne saile that waie as the winde bloweth.

1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler 208 Heark how it rains and blows .

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 112 All the West Allies of stormy Boreas blow .

1786 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 146 November chill blaws loud wi' angry sugh.

1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §313 It blowed very hard, especially on the night of lighting.

1802 G. Morris in J. Sparks Life G. Morris (1832) III. 166 Straws and feathers..show which way the wind blows.

1840 F. Marryat Poor Jack x. 60 The gale had blown up again.

1854 H. Miller My Schools & Schoolmasters (1858) 14 It soon began to blow great guns.

b. blow high, blow low: whatever may happen. U.S.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > chance or causelessness > chance [phrase] > come what may

fall what can (also may, will) fallc1225

avalȝe que valȝe1487

fall back, fall edge?1553

blow high, blow low1774

and chance the ducks1874

(come) rain or shine1905

1774 P. V. Fithian Jrnl. & Lett. (1900) 235 Ben is in a wonderful Fluster lest he shall have no company to-morrow at the Dance—But blow high, blow low, he need not be afraid; Virginians..will dance or die!

1776 C. Dibdin Seraglio i. 11 Blow high, blow low, let tempests tear The mainmast by the board.]

a1861 T. Winthrop John Brent (1883) vi. 52 I've booked Brother John fur Paradise; Brother Joseph's got a white robe fur him, blow high, blow low!

1923 R. D. Paine Comrades Rolling Ocean x. 171 There were three musketeers..who were blithely resolved to stand by each other through thick and thin, blow high, blow low.

a. To send from the mouth a current of air (stronger than that produced by ordinary breathing); to produce a current of air in any way, e.g. said of bellows. (Cf. sense 7.)

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > gas > air > moving air > move (of air) [verb (intransitive)] > produce current of air

blowc1000

huff1582

c1000 West Saxon Gospels: John (Corpus Cambr.) xx. 22 Þa bleow he on hi and cwæð to him under-foð haline gast.

1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Ezek. xxi. 31 In fier of my wodnes Y shal blowe in thee.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 12540 He..hent his hand and bleu þar-in.

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. YYYvi She waueth with her wynges & so bloweth, that by her mouyng she ingendreth an heate in them.

1572 G. Gascoigne Wks. (1587) 1 My lights and lungs like bellows blow.

a1620 J. Dyke Divers Select Serm. (1640) 63 When the word is preached, then the Bellowes blowes to kindle the fire.

1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica 176 Serrous or jarring motion like that which happeneth while we blow on the teeth of a combe through paper.

1715 J. T. Desaguliers tr. N. Gauger Fires Improv'd 42 I blowed upon the Thermometer.

1840 H. W. Longfellow Village Blacksmith in Knickerbocker Nov. 419 You can hear his bellows blow.

b. to blow hot and cold: (figurative) to be or to do one thing at one time, another at another; to be inconsistent or vacillating. (In reference to one of Æsop's Fables.)

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > inconstancy > be inconstant [verb (intransitive)]

flitc1386

waivec1425

flitter1543

to play fast and loose1557

range1557

vary1557

halve1566

to blow hot and cold1577

flirt1578

laveer1598

to weathercock it1654

1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. I. ii. vi. sig. Lviij^v/1 One which out of one mouth, doth blowe both hoat and cold.

1638 W. Chillingworth Relig. Protestants i. ii. §113. 95 These men can blow hot and cold out of the same mouth to serve severall purposes.

1690 W. Walker Idiomatologia Anglo-Lat. 61 With the same breath to blow hot and cold.

1694 R. L'Estrange Fables of Aesop (1699) 219 Says the satyr, ‘If you have gotten a trick of blowing hot and cold out of the same mouth, I've e'en done with ye.’]

1855 J. L. Motley Rise Dutch Republic III. v. v. 329 Being constantly ordered ‘to blow hot and cold with the same breath’.

†3. To make a blowing sound; to hiss, whistle. spec. of a deer.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > [verb (intransitive)] > make blowing sound

blow1340

whiff1605

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 32 Þe childe þet ne dar guo his way vor þe guos þet blauþ.

c1475 (?c1425) Avowing of King Arthur (1984) l. 230 All wroth wex þat sqwyne, Blu and brayd vppe his bryne.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Zech. x. 8 I wil blowe [1611 hisse] for them & gather them together.

1868 Amer. Naturalist 2 467 The hunter says he [sc. the buck deer] ‘blows’; it may be a note of anger or defiance.

a. To breathe hard, pant, puff. to blow out: to be winded. (Cf. sense 8.)

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > become weary or exhausted [verb (intransitive)] > specific

forfare1393

forlie1423

to blow outc1440

flakec1500

to break one's brain, mind, wind1598

stress1756

to hit the wall1974

the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > disordered breathing > have or cause breathing disorder [verb (intransitive)] > become short of breath

shortc1000

to blow outc1440

stuff1488

to break one's brain, mind, wind1598

the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > disordered breathing > have or cause breathing disorder [verb (intransitive)] > become short of breath > pant

fnastc1000

puffc1300

pantc1350

fnesec1386

blowc1440

bluster1530

pech1538

pantlea1626

pank1669

heave1679

fuff1721

pipe1814

huff1881

c1440 Erle Tolous 442 in Ritson Met. Rom. III. 111 The thrydd fledd, and blewe owt faste, The erle ovyrtoke hym at the laste.

a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1960) xii. xii. 234 At sic debait that baith thai pant and blaw.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 458/2 He bloweth lyke a horse that came newe from galoppyng.

1600 R. Armin Foole vpon Foole sig. C2^v They puft and they blow'd, they ranne as swift as a pudding would creepe.

1715 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad I. ii. 465 Each spent Courser at the Chariot blow.

1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess v. 95 The huge bush-bearded Barons heaved and blew.

b. To breathe; to take breath. dialect. to blow short: (of a horse) to be broken-winded.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > respiratory organs > breathing > breathe [verb (intransitive)]

etheOE

breathea1398

andea1400

respire?a1425

blowc1440

queasea1500

suspire1600

respirate1668

rake1793

the world > health and disease > ill health > animal disease or disorder > disorders of horses > of horse: have disorder [verb (intransitive)] > respiratory disorders

to blow shortc1440

whistle1898

c1440 York Myst. xxxi. 142 Nowe gois a-bakke both, and late þe boy blowe.

?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xxxii^v Pursy is a dysease in a horse body, and maketh hym to blowe short.

1647 N. Ward Simple Cobler Aggawam 34 They gave him such straynes as made him blow short ever since.

1786 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 167 Thou never lap, and sten't, an' breastet, Then stood to blaw.

1860 J. G. Holland Miss Gilbert's Career ii. 29 I'll sit here and blow, till he comes around.

5. Of whales, etc.: To eject water and air from the ‘blow-holes’, before taking in fresh air; to spout.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > mammals > order Cetacea (whales) > [verb (intransitive)] > miscellaneous actions of whale

calvec1000

spout1683

blow1726

peak1839

sound1839

fluke1840

mill1840

breach1843

white-water1856

round1881

1726 P. Dudley in Philos. Trans. 1725 (Royal Soc.) 33 261 Once in a Quarter of an Hour..they are observed to rise and blow, spouting out Water and Wind, and to draw in fresh Air.

1779 T. Forrest Voy. New Guinea 128 Many porpoises blowing near us.

1851 H. Melville Moby-Dick xlvii. 239 The Sperm Whale blows as a clock ticks.

6. To utter loud or noisy breath, to bluster:

Thesaurus »

Categories »

a. To boast, brag (chiefly regional).

b. To fume, storm, speak angrily (chiefly colloquial).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > anger > manifestation of anger > show anger [verb (intransitive)] > speak angrily

spitc1386

ragea1400

blowc1475

blustera1494

storm?1553

pelt1594

tear1602

fare1603

to speak or look daggers1603

to blow hot coalsc1626

rant1647

scream1775

to pop off1914

to carry on1947

c1475 (?c1425) Avowing of King Arthur (1984) l. 354 I, Kay, þat þou knawes, Þat owte of tyme bostus and blawus.

c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 97 Blouing veynly wiþ fleschli wit.

?1520 J. Rastell Nature .iiii. Element sig. E.i Why man what eylyth y^e so to blow?

1790 R. Burns in J. Johnson Scots Musical Museum III. 306 He brags and he blaws o' his siller.

1863 C. C. Clarke Shakespeare-characters x. 270 He has been blowing and storming about this drum.

1873 A. Trollope Austral. & N.Z. xxv In the colonies..when a gentleman sounds his own trumpet he ‘blows.’

1873 M. A. Barker Station Amusem. N.Z. xiv. 237 I..mention this, not out of any desire to ‘blow’ about our sheep.

1878 Cornhill Mag. June 680 ‘My sister ain't the best,’ the child declared, ‘she's always blowing at me.’

1885 R. C. Praed Austral. Life ii. 45 He was famous for ‘blowing’, in Australian parlance,..of his exploits.

1896 H. A. Bryden Tales S. Afr. iii. 68 You know I don't ‘blow’, Jim, or spout tall yarns.

1917 Chrons. N.Z.E.F. 5 Sept. 35/2 I don't care about blowin' about it.

Categories »

c. dialect. To smoke a pipe: see 9b.

** causal uses of the preceding.

a. Beside the expressions to blow with bellows, and the bellows blow (see 2), one is said to blow the bellows, i.e. to work them so as to make them blow.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > industry > working with tools or equipment > work with tools or equipment [verb (intransitive)] > other tools or equipment

filec1230

to blow the bellowsc1440

pump1508

vice1612

plane1678

shovel1685

turn1796

brake1862

pestle1866

chisel1873

roll1881

slice1893

leverage1937

monkeywrench1993

c1440 Leg. Rood (1871) 85 Scho blew þe belise ferly fast.

1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure xxxvi. xxiii Afrycus Auster made surreccion, Blowyng his bellowes by great occasion.

?1577 J. Northbrooke Spiritus est Vicarius Christi: Treat. Dicing 55 Many which lacke armes may worke with their feete, to blowe Smithes bellowes.

1880 G. Grove Dict. Music II. 577 The four bellows are blown in a manner which we here meet with for the first time.

†b. figurative. to blow the bellows: to stir up passion, strife, etc. Obsolete. (Cf. to blow the fire at sense 17b.)

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > dissent > be in dissension or at variance [verb (intransitive)] > cause dissension

to make strife1303

to make the feathers flyc1430

to stir the coals1539

to make mischiefc1572

to blow the bellows1590

to blow the fire1670

to stir the pot1826

to stir (also rouse) the possum1900

to mix it1950

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii.iii. sig. O8 He cast for to..Blow the bellowes to his swelling vanity.

a1657 J. Balfour Hist. Wks. (1824) II. 263 The bischopes blouing the bellowes, and still craying fyre and suord.

8. (causative of 4.) To cause to pant, to put out of breath: usually of horses.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > weary or exhaust [verb (transitive)] > put out of breath

breathec1425

abreathea1500

overbreathe1586

blow1651

outwind1708

wind1811

pump1858

society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride (a horse or other animal) [verb (transitive)] > exhaust (a horse) by excessive riding

override1609

jade1615

blow1651

to ride down1682

to sew up1826

to stump up1853

bucket1856

stump1883

the world > health and disease > ill health > animal disease or disorder > disorders of horses > cause injury or disease of horse [verb (transitive)] > respiratory disorders

wind-break1638

blow1651

1651 W. Davenant Gondibert ii. xliii From thence, well blown, he [i.e. Stag] comes to the Relay.

1760 Hist. Europe in Ann. Reg. 24/1 They came up five miles on a full trot without being blown.

1771 P. Parsons Newmarket I. 108 How much water, given to a horse before he starts, will blow him.

1816 W. Scott Old Mortality xii, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. II. 304 Move steadily, and do not blow the horses.

1859 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Mar. 306/1 The Russians..were..pretty well blown in the pursuit.

*** transitive (with the air, breath, etc., as object.)

a. transitive. To breathe out, emit, produce (a current of air, breath, etc.) with the mouth; to give forth by breathing; also to force or cause to pass (a current of air) through, into, upon, by other means. Also figurative.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > gas > air > moving air > set (air) in motion [verb (transitive)] > produce (a current of air)

blowc1175

c1175 Lamb. Hom. 75 Þan deþliche atter · þet þe alde deouel blou on adam.

c1175 Lamb. Hom. 99 [Crist ableow þana halȝa gast ofer þa apostlas].

c1375 J. Wyclif Antecrist (Todd) 148 Þei blowen on hem a stynkand breþe.

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Wisd. xv. 11 That bleȝ [a1425 L.V. blowide] in to hym a lifli spirit.

1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure xxxvi. iii A fende..Blowyng out fyre.

1591 E. Spenser Ruines of Rome in Complaints xxvi Where colde Boreas blowes his bitter stormes.

1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan vi. i. ii Good thoughts are blown into a man by God.

1784 J. Adams Diary 10 July (1961) III. 170 If inflammable Air were blown thro the Pipe.

1841 H. W. Longfellow Wreck of Hesperus in Boston Bk. (ed. 3) 74 He blew a whiff from his pipe.

1866 T. H. Huxley Lessons Elem. Physiol. (1869) iv. 96 If a pipe be now fitted into the bronchus, and air blown through it.

b. To smoke (tobacco); also intransitive (dialect) But to blow a cloud is a common figurative expression for to smoke a pipe. See also cloud n. 5b.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > tobacco > smoking > smoke [verb (intransitive)]

whiff1602

smoke1617

to blow (raise obs.) a cloud1699

drawa1774

smook1805

blow1808

to have (or take) a smoke1835

tobacconize1876

shoch1898

inhale1933

fag1940

to have a burn1941

the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > tobacco > smoking > use as material for smoking [verb (transitive)] > use in the act of smoking

drone1600

to take the whiff1600

whiffc1616

puff1664

smoke1707

fuff1786

blow1808

burn1929

chuff1940

1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. (at cited word) To blaw Tobacco; to blaw.

1848 Sessions Mar. 847 I could sit down and blow my 'bacco.

c1855 N. Hawthorne Mother Rigby's Pipe i Smoke, puff, blow thy cloud.

1856 H. Mayhew Great World London 5 Smoke a pipe of baccer..blow your yard of tripe of nosey-me-knacker.

c. To lay out or get through (money) in a lavish manner; to squander; = blue v.² 1 slang. Also reflexive. (U.S. dialect): see quot. 1896.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > management of money > expenditure > spend [verb (reflexive)] > spend freely

blow1874

society > trade and finance > management of money > expenditure > waste of money or extravagance > spend extravagantly [verb (transitive)]

to piss (money, an opportunity, etc.) against the wall1540

lavish1542

melt1607

to piss away1628

unbowel1647

tap1712

sport1785

waster1821

blue1846

spree1859

to frivol away1866

blow1874

bust1878

skittle1883

to blow in1886

burst1892

bang1897

1874 Hotten's Slang Dict. (rev. ed.) 86 Blew, or blow,..to lose or spend money.

1892 Daily News 5 Sept. 6/3 Sometimes you'll blow a little money..but another week you may make a lot.

1896 Dial. Notes 1 412 ‘To blow oneself’, to spend money freely.

1902 S. E. White Blazed Trail xxviii. 193 ‘Well, bub,’ finally drawled a voice from the corner, ‘blowed that stake you made out of Radway, yet?’

1904 W. H. Smith Promoters v. 100 The Church people in England were the folks that had the money to blow.

1921 R. D. Paine Comrades Rolling Ocean iv. 57 When I pick up easy money, I just naturally have to blow it.

1932 H. Simpson Boomerang x. 244 A thousand pounds, which she proposed..to blow in a couple of months' high living.

1957 Economist 21 Dec. 1030/1 He will probably feel able to blow with a clear conscience the £2,000.

d. to blow in: to spend, squander. Also absol. slang (chiefly U.S.).

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > management of money > expenditure > waste of money or extravagance > spend extravagantly [verb (transitive)]

to piss (money, an opportunity, etc.) against the wall1540

lavish1542

melt1607

to piss away1628

unbowel1647

tap1712

sport1785

waster1821

blue1846

spree1859

to frivol away1866

blow1874

bust1878

skittle1883

to blow in1886

burst1892

bang1897

1886 in Amer. Speech (1950) 25 30/2 When Davis has a dollar he's dead bent on blowing it all in.

1887 F. Francis Saddle & Mocassin 144 ‘Sam went off on a bend.’ ‘To blow in?’ Jake laughed assent.

1894 Amer. Newspaper The third ‘blows in’ his money in a glorious drunk at the saloon.

1903 Outlook 7 Nov. 586 He had blown in all his earnings in a grand frolic.

1934 J. T. Farrell Young Manhood (1936) i. 163 Last winter I got sixty bucks from him for tuition and books and blew it in.

1938 R. Finlayson Brown Man's Burden 24 After breakfast I'll borrow Henare's car and we'll blow in the cash.

1946 F. Sargeson That Summer 35 Then he'd go to town and blow his money in, usually at the races.

e. To lose or bungle (an opportunity, etc.); to mishandle (a situation); to ruin, spoil. Frequently with it. slang (originally U.S.).

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > damage > damage or injure [verb (transitive)]

mareOE

shendOE

hinderc1000

amarOE

awemc1275

noyc1300

touchc1300

bleche1340

blemisha1375

spill1377

misdoa1387

grieve1390

damagea1400

despoil?a1400

matea1400

snapea1400

mankc1400

overthrowa1425

tamec1430

undermine1430

blunder1440

depaira1460

adommage?1473

endamage1477

prejudicec1487

fulyie1488

martyra1500

dyscrase?1504

corrupt1526

mangle1534

danger1538

destroy1542

spoil1563

ruinate1564

ruin1567

wrake1570

injury1579

bane1587

massacre1589

ravish1594

wrong1595

rifle1604

tainta1616

mutilea1618

to do violence toa1625

flaw1665

stun1676

quail1682

maul1694

moil1698

damnify1712

margullie1721

maul1782

buga1790

mux1806

queer1818

batter1840

puckeroo1840

rim-rack1841

pretty1868

garbage1899

savage1899

to do in1905

strafe1915

mash1924

blow1943

nuke1967

mung1969

the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > do something unskilfully [verb (intransitive)] > bungle

bungle1549

to put the wrong foot before1590

bebotch1609

to put one's foot in (also into) it1796

mess1823

boggle1853

to make a muff of oneself1884

duff1890

bobble1908

miscue1941

blow1943

to make a porridge (of)1969

sheg1981

the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > be unskilled in [verb (transitive)] > bungle

botch1530

bungle1530

mumble1588

muddle1605

mash1642

bumble?1719

to fall through ——1726

fuck1776

blunder1805

to make a mull of1821

bitch1823

mess1823

to make a mess of1834

smudge1864

to muck up1875

boss1887

to make balls of1889

duff1890

foozle1892

bollocks1901

fluff1902

to make a muck of1903

bobble1908

to ball up1911

jazz1914

boob1915

to make a hash of1920

muff1922

flub1924

to make a hat of1925

to ass up1932

louse1934

screw1938

blow1943

to foul up1943

eff1945

balls1947

to make a hames of1947

to arse up1951

to fuck up1967

dork1969

sheg1981

bodge1984

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > lack of truth, falsity > mistake [phrase]

to miss the cushiona1529

to get, have, or take the (or a) wrong (or right) sow by the ear1546

to pray without one's beads1641

to have the wrong end of the stick?1793

to bark up the wrong tree1832

the boot (is) on the wrong leg or foot1834

to have another think coming1896

you have another guess coming1935

to be off the beam1941

blow1943

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > lack of truth, falsity > an error, mistake > make a mess of [verb (transitive)]

blow1943

to make a hames of1947

to cock up1948

goof1960

to fuck up1967

1943 W. R. Burnett Nobody lives Forever i. x. 60 He'll probably blow it. He's beginning to look old.

1950 H. E. Goldin Dict. Amer. Underworld Lingo 30/1 Blow, v... 3. To lose; to bungle. ‘Don't blow that piece (revolver); it cost me a double sawbuck (twenty dollars).’

1967 Boston Herald 1 Apr. 16/4 There wasn't anyone in the Boston contingent who could recall him ever blowing three layups in a game before.

1971 It 9 Sept. 19/1 This could have been a wonderful record but they blew it.

1977 Tennis World Sept. 17/1 If a player is nervous he ‘muffs’, ‘flubs’ or ‘blows’ his shots.

1983 Times 22 Jan. 1/2 Let's go in June, and win, rather than blow it in March, 1984.

10. to blow off: (transitive) to allow (steam or the like) to escape forcibly with a blowing noise; also figurative to get rid of (superfluous energy, emotion, etc.) in a noisy way; intransitive (for reflexive) of steam, gas, etc.: to escape forcibly.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > manifestation of emotion > manifest or exhibit (emotions) [verb (transitive)] > expel emotion in noisy or vigorous manner

exhale1745

to blow off1836

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > go or come out [verb (intransitive)] > of something confined > forcibly (of steam or gas)

to blow off1836

the world > food and drink > drink > providing or serving drink > [verb (transitive)] > treat to drinks

to blow off1884

1836 F. Marryat Snarleyyow xi, in Metropolitan May 10 The widow..sat..fuming and blowing off her steam.

1865 W. S. Jevons Coal Quest. (ed. 2) 65 Carburetted gas..is liable to blow off and endanger the lives of hundreds of persons.

1884 Christian Commonw. 24 Jan. 348/1 Blowing off their superfluous energy in singing and shouting.

†11. To utter: also with out. Most frequently in a bad sense: To utter boastfully, angrily, etc. to blow into one's ear: to whisper privily. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > pride > boasting or boastfulness > utter boastfully [verb (transitive)]

avauntc1374

blowc1380

brag1627

vaunt1633

vapour1658

to blow one's own trumpet1854

woof1934

society > communication > information > action of informing > information [phrase] > whisper (something) privily

to blow into one's ear1652

c1380 J. Wyclif Three Treat. i. 69 Censuris þat þe fend bloweþ (as ben suspendis and interdicyngis).

c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 5421 Þan wax þe Amyral glad..& gan to blowe bost.

c1440 W. Hylton Scala Perfeccionis (1494) ii. xlii Blowynge psalmes & louynges to Jhesu.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) iv. 122 The gret bost that it [sc. pryde] blawis.

c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) vi. 30 That samyn sound as thay beystis hed blauen.

1564 T. Becon New Catech. in Catech. & Other Pieces (1844) 344 He blowed out many furious and unseemly words.

1642 T. Taylor God's Judgem. i. i. xii. 35 Threats were blowne out on every side against the Faithful.

1652 C. Cotterell tr. G. de Costes de La Calprenède Cassandra (1676) iv. 61 These things which malitious Roxana blew into Statira's ears.

**** transitive To drive or transport by blowing.

12.

a. transitive. To drive or carry (things) by means of a current of air; also figurative. Const. simply, or with prepositions or adverbs of direction, as away, down, from, off, to, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > impelling or driving > impel or drive [verb (transitive)] > by blowing or puffing

puff?c1225

blowa1300

whiffle1641

whuffle1906

a1300 Cursor Mundi 22922 Þof his bodi al war brint, And blaun ouer al þe puder tint.

c1300 K. Alis. 5630 The wynde you may theder blawen, In lesse than in twenty dawen.

1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Mal. i. 13 Ȝe han blowe it awey.

c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 1982 [Þai] were blouen to þe brode se in a bir swithe.

1577 M. Hanmer tr. Bp. Eusebius in Aunc. Eccl. Hist. ix. iv. 175 Y^e heate of persecution was blowen against vs.

1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 v. iii. 87 Falst. What wind blew you hither Pistol? Pistol Not the ill winde which blowes no man to good.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 (1623) iii. i. 83 Looke, as I blow this Feather from my Face, And as the Ayre blowes it to me againe.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 102 Winnow'd Chaff, by western winds is blown .

1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 269. ¶7 The Wind..blew down the end of one of his Barns.

1870 F. R. Wilson Archit. Surv. Churches Lindisfarne 68 The roof was blown off.

b. intransitive (for reflexive). To be driven or carried by the wind; to move before the wind. Same const. Also (U.S. colloquial), to move as if carried or impelled by the wind.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > progressive motion > specific manner of progressive motion > move progressively in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > as if carried by the wind

blow1842

1842 Ld. Tennyson Goose xiii, in Poems (new ed.) I. 233 Her cap blew off, her gown blew up.

1842 Ld. Tennyson Day-dream in Poems (new ed.) II. 156 The hedge broke in, the banner blew.

1844 Knickerbocker 23 51 I was half awake..when Bob came in, blew about the room for a while, and cried out.

1868 S. Hale Lett. (1919) 42 She is a picturesque looking creature... Why she blows up and down the Nile year in and year out,.. I dunno.

1903 E. C. Waltz Pa Gladden 61 The kitchen door opened and the wind-tossed farmer fairly blew in.

c. to blow over (formerly in perfect to be blown over): (of storms or storm-clouds) to pass over a place without descending upon it; to pass away, come to an end; also figurative of misfortune, danger, etc. Also to blow off in same sense.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > end or extremity > come to an end [verb (intransitive)]

finea1300

cease1382

fall1523

to break up1544

to blow off1633

subside1654

peter1846

1633 J. Fosbroke Englands Warning 26 in Six Serm. When the storm is blown over, they return to their old bias again.

1641 ‘Smectymnuus’ Vindic. Answer Hvmble Remonstr. §13. 131 This cloud will soone blow over.

1692 R. South 12 Serm. I. 636 Do they think that..this dreadfull Sentence [shall] blow off without Execution?

1794 G. Morris in J. Sparks Life G. Morris (1832) II. 399 The affair is blown over.

1849 A. Alison Hist. Europe from French Revol. (new ed.) VIII. liv. 479 The danger had blown over.

d. to blow in: to appear or turn up unexpectedly; to drop in. colloquial (originally U.S.).

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming in > go or come in [verb (intransitive)] > come in unexpectedly

to drop in1609

to look ina1616

to blow in1895

pop1977

1895 F. Remington Pony Tracks 104 We were all very busy when William ‘blew in’ with a great sputtering.

1904 G. H. Lorimer Old Gorgon Graham 47 Yesterday our old college friend, Clarence, blew in from Monte Carlo.

1910 W. M. Raine Bucky O'Connor 97 Him and York Neil..blew in last night from their mine.

1911 H. Quick Yellowstone Nights ix. 241 A witness..from outside the jurisdiction had blowed in.

1913 R. Brooke Let. 6 Sept. (1968) 505 I ‘blew in’ here yesterday, & found about nine letters from you.

1924 J. Galsworthy White Monkey ii. iii If anything blows in, I'll remember you.

1940 War Illustr. 16 Feb. ii/3 He just blew in out of the black-out and asked if he might use the telephone.

e. To go away, to leave hurriedly. slang (originally U.S.).

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go away suddenly or hastily

fleec825

runOE

swervea1225

biwevec1275

skip1338

streekc1380

warpa1400

yerna1400

smoltc1400

stepc1460

to flee (one's) touch?1515

skirr1548

rubc1550

to make awaya1566

lope1575

scuddle1577

scoura1592

to take the start1600

to walk off1604

to break awaya1616

to make off1652

to fly off1667

scuttle1681

whew1684

scamper1687

whistle off1689

brush1699

to buy a brush1699

to take (its, etc.) wing1704

decamp1751

to take (a) French leave1751

morris1765

to rush off1794

to hop the twig1797

to run along1803

scoot1805

to take off1815

speela1818

to cut (also make, take) one's lucky1821

to make (take) tracks (for)1824

absquatulize1829

mosey1829

absquatulate1830

put1834

streak1834

vamoose1834

to put out1835

cut1836

stump it1841

scratch1843

scarper1846

to vamoose the ranch1847

hook1851

shoo1851

slide1859

to cut and run1861

get1861

skedaddle1862

bolt1864

cheese it1866

to do a bunkc1870

to wake snakes1872

bunk1877

nit1882

to pull one's freight1884

fooster1892

to get the (also to) hell out (of)1892

smoke1893

mooch1899

to fly the coop1901

skyhoot1901

shemozzle1902

to light a shuck1905

to beat it1906

pooter1907

to take a run-out powder1909

blow1912

to buzz off1914

to hop it1914

skate1915

beetle1919

scram1928

amscray1931

boogie1940

skidoo1949

bug1950

do a flit1952

to do a scarper1958

to hit, split or take the breeze1959

to do a runner1980

to be (also get, go) ghost1986

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away from [verb (transitive)] > go away from suddenly or hurriedly

fleeOE

to give the bag to1582

fling1588

vamoose1847

jump1875

skip1884

to leave (a person) flat1902

blow1912

scarper1937

society > travel > aspects of travel > departure, leaving, or going away > depart, leave, or go away [verb (intransitive)] > hastily or suddenly

fleec825

warpa1400

wringc1400

bolt1575

decamp1751

mog1770

to hop the twig1797

to take (its, etc.) wing1806

to make (take) tracks (for)1824

vamoose1834

fade1848

skedaddle1862

to beat it1906

blow1912

to hop it1914

beetle1919

bug1950

jet1951

1902 B. Burgundy's Lett. 50 Then we had another and blew the joint.]

1912 G. Ade Knocking Neighbors 93 She..tied up the Geranium and took the unfinished Tatting and Blew.

1936 ‘J. Curtis’ Gilt Kid 130 Sorry and all that, but I'm afraid I must blow now.

1937 E. Linklater Juan in China xxv. 315 ‘And what's happened to Rocco?’..‘He's blown. He's gone up north.’

1961 J. I. M. Stewart Man who won Pools iii. 38 All I want is that all these people should blow.

f. To depart (esp. suddenly) from; to vacate or quit. U.S. slang.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > aspects of travel > departure, leaving, or going away > depart from or leave [verb (transitive)]

leaveeOE

beleavea1250

devoidc1325

voidc1330

to pass out ofa1398

roomc1400

departa1425

avoid1447

ishc1450

part1496

quita1568

shrink1594

shifta1642

to turn out of ——1656

refraina1723

blow1902

1902 [see sense 12e].

1926 Flynn's 16 Jan. 640/1 Knock-'em Loose, the Bull, was on the razee an' I got trun out, so I blew de joint.

1949 in H. Wentworth & S. B. Flexner Dict. Amer. Slang (1960) 45/2 Alive, you're ready to blow town.

1971 ‘R. Macdonald’ Underground Man iv. 28 I'm blowing this town tonight and taking the money with me.

1984 J. Davis Garfield: Who's Talking? 75 ‘Let's blow this joint, Garfield.’ ‘Hang on!’

13.

a. transitive (figurative) To proclaim, publish, blaze, spread abroad, about, (out obsolete), etc.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > publish or spread abroad [verb (transitive)]

sowc888

blowc1275

dispeple1297

to do abroadc1300

fame1303

publyc1350

defamea1382

publisha1382

open?1387

proclaima1393

slandera1400

spreada1400

abroachc1400

throwc1400

to give outa1425

promote?a1425

noisec1425

publicc1430

noisec1440

divulgea1464

to put outc1475

skail1487

to come out witha1500

bruit1525

bruita1529

to bear out1530

divulgate1530

promulgate1530

propale?1530

ventilate1530

provulgate1535

sparple1536

sparse1536

promulge1539

disperse1548

publicate1548

forthtell1549

hurly-burly?1550

propagate1554

to set abroada1555

utter1561

to set forth1567

blaze1570

evulgate1570

scatter1576

rear?1577

to carry about1585

pervulgate1586

celebrate?1596

propalate1598

vent1602

evulge1611

to give forth1611

impublic1628

ventilate1637

disseminate1643

expose1644

emit1650

to put about1664

to send abroad1681

to get abroad1688

to take out1697

advertise1710

forward1713

to set abouta1715

circulate1780

broadcast1829

vent1832

vulgate1851

debit1879

float1883

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 13487 Þæ king of Peytouwe har mon iblowen [c1300 Otho iblowe].

c1384 G. Chaucer Hous of Fame 1139 And her fames wide yblowe.

1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (ad fin.) Direction 129 Thy fame is blaw, thy prowes and renoun Dyvulgat ar.

1541 Act 33 Hen. VIII xxi They shal not openly blow it abrode.

1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 429 These news..being blowne out of the campe into the citie.

1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe III. iv. 99 So soon as Richard's return is blown abroad.

1859 Ld. Tennyson Guinevere in Idylls of King 233 A rumour wildly blown about.

b. To proclaim or praise boastfully.

ΚΠ

1878 J. H. Beadle Western Wilds viii. 126 This [State] the most loudly blowed and persistently advertised of the whole sisterhood, has been knocking for admission into the Union since 1849.

1878 J. H. Beadle Western Wilds xiii. 194 In Kansas or Nebraska we should see..one or two live journals blowing the place as the ‘future metropolis of the boundless West’.

II. To act upon an object, by blowing air into, upon, or at it.

* To blow a musical instrument.

14.

a. transitive. To make (a wind-instrument) sound. (Formerly also with up, out.) to blow one's own trumpet: (figurative) to sound one's own praises, to brag.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > work with metal [verb (transitive)] > found or cast (object)

blowc1000

yetOE

cast1496

found1562

run1690

pour1873

society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > playing instruments > playing wind instrument > play wind instrument [verb (transitive)]

blowc1000

blazec1384

blast1530

toot1614

breathe1718

tootle1890

c1000 West Saxon Gospells: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) vi. 2 Ne blawe man byman beforan þe.

c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 115 Þe bemene drem þe þe engles blewen.

c1450 (c1380) G. Chaucer House of Fame (Fairf. 16) (1878) l. 775 Whan a pipe is blowen sharpe The aire ys twyst with violence.

c1450 J. Lydgate Merita Missæ 171 Pryd gothe beforen And schame comythe aftyr, and blawythe horne.

1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos xlvi. 139 They..blew vp their trompettes for to gyue a sharpe sawte.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Macc. iii. 54 They blewe out the trompettes.

1611 Bible (King James) Psalms lxxxi. 3 Blow vp the trumpet in the new Moone.

1611 Bible (King James) Hosea v. 8 Blow yee the cornet in Gibeah.

1832 Ld. Tennyson Palace of Art ix, in Poems (new ed.) 71 The belted hunter blew His wreathèd buglehorn.

b. To sound (a note or blast) on or with an instrument.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > playing instruments > playing wind instrument > play wind instrument [verb (transitive)] > play (note on)

blowc1400

sound1806

screed1821

c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1141 Blwe bygly in bugleȝ þre bare moteȝ.

1486 Bk. St. Albans E v b Iij. motis shall ye blaw booth lowde and shill.

c1600 Rob. Hood (Ritson) ii. ix. 60 Let me have my beugle horn, And blow but blasts three.

1793 R. Burns in G. Thomson Sel. Coll. Orig. Sc. Airs I. i. 22 When wild War's deadly blast was blawn.

1843 C. Fox Jrnls. II. 12 Though he has blown so loud a blast.

c. To sound the signal of (an alarm, advance, retreat, etc.) on an instrument.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > indication > signalling > audible signalling > signalling with other sounding instruments > sound signal on instrument [verb (transitive)]

blowc1330

c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 518 Þe tokening when þai blewe.

c1420 Anturs of Arthure v. 10 The king blue a rechase.

1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Blowe the Retreate in battayle.

1561 J. Daus tr. H. Bullinger Hundred Serm. vpon Apocalips Pref. sig. A.vii The Deuil..bloweth the one.

1621 R. Montagu Diatribæ Hist. Tithes 398 Wee must goe blow the Seeke, and cast about againe.

1634 Malory's Arthur (1816) I. 112 Then king Arthur blew the prize, and dight the hart there.

a1641 R. Montagu Acts & Monuments (1642) 385 He tels they were Grecians born..where, when, upon what termes, you must, if you will, goe blow the seek.

1805 R. Southey Madoc ii. xviii. 362 Ye have blown The fall too soon.

d. Predicated of the instrument.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > sound of instruments > sound (notes, etc.) [verb (transitive)] > wind instrument

blowa1616

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) v. iii. 43 Let the generall Trumpet blow his blast.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 540 Sonorous mettal blowing Martial sounds.

1758 J. Beattie Ode to Peace ii. iii, in Scots Mag. Sept. 482/2 The fierce alarms Her trump terrific blows.

e. To play jazz on (any instrument). Also intransitive. colloquial (originally U.S.).

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > perform music [verb (intransitive)] > perform specific type of music

serenade1671

prelude1680

fugue1783

pastoralize1828

preludize1829

symphonize1833

ran-tan1866

counterpoint1875

rag1896

ragtime1908

jazz1916

rock1931

jivec1938

bop1947

blow1949

rock-and-roll1956

skiffle1957

hip-hop1983

society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > perform (music) [verb (transitive)] > perform specific types of music

jig1598

serenade1672

prelude1795

shivaree1805

dirge1826

ran-tan1866

overture1870

threnody1893

ragtime1908

rag1914

blow1949

1949 L. Feather Inside Be-bop ii. 72 Nobody ever gave Diz or Bird a lesson in the art of blowing a jazz chorus.

1962 John o' London's 3 May 433/1 A blowin' session is a general term used to describe that form of jazz where men get together for the pleasure of making free and spontaneous music.

1962 Radio Times 17 May 43/3 A jazz musician never plays an instrument—he blows it, whether it be drums, piano, bass, or horn. Should he ‘blow’ with feeling, or great excitement (‘like wild’) he is either ‘way out’ or ‘wailing’.

1966 Crescendo Sept. 27/1 The not-so-advanced suffered from insufficient outlet, and opportunity to blow and to improve.

1966 Melody Maker 15 Oct. 6 Dave Gelly is a school librarian who also blows jazz tenor with the New Jazz Orchestra.

1968 Jazz Monthly Apr. 23/2 His style was hard to fit into the standards of hard bop blowing sessions.

15. intransitive.

a. Of a wind-instrument: To give forth a sound by being blown. Also with up (obsolete).

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > sound of instruments > sound [verb (intransitive)] > wind instruments

blow?c1225

bray1340

toot1516

blustera1590

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 157 Þe engles bemen. þe schulen..biforen þe grimfule dom grisliche blawen.

a1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 4677 Þe beme þat blaw sal on domsday.

a1500 (?c1400) Sir Triamour (Cambr.) (1937) l. 1092 The kyng..herde a bewgull blowe!

1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 181 All the trumpettis blawand vp in tune.

1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida i. iii. 253 Trumpet blowe alowd, Send thy brasse voyce through all these lazie tents.

1647 R. Fanshawe tr. B. Guarini Pastor Fido (1676) 52 But list a little, doth not a Horn blow?

1875 O. W. Holmes Old Cambr. in Poems (1884) 306 Our trumpets needs must blow.

b. Of the blower: To sound a blast. to blow up: to sound a whistle (as a signal).

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > playing instruments > playing wind instrument > play wind instrument [verb (intransitive)]

blowc1275

blast1384

toot1549

wind1600

tootle1842

tootle-too1857

society > communication > indication > signalling > audible signalling > signalling with other sounding instruments > sound signal on instrument [verb (intransitive)] > sound whistle as signal

whistlec1000

pipe1707

to blow up1889

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 4016 Þe king lette blawen [c1300 Otho blowen] & bonnien his ferden.

1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) iii. 484 Quhen he hard sa blaw & cry.

1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. 410 At the houre of ix. theyr mynstrels blewe vp on highe.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 459/1 He bloweth in a trompet.

c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 1308 Þe kyng..henttes his horne and hastily blawes.

1602 Returne fr. Parnassus (Arb.) ii. v. 29 There is an excellent skill in blowing for the terriers.

1611 Bible (King James) Judges vii. 18 I blow with a trumpet.

a1882 H. W. Longfellow Michael Angelo Blow, ye bright angels, on your golden trumpets.

1889 A. Barrère & C. G. Leland Dict. Slang I. 135/2 To blow up (i.e., to sound the whistle), is to call the men to work; used by foremen and ga[n]gers.

1954 J. B. G. Thomas On Tour vi. 65 The referee blew up to see who was actually lying on the ball.

c. Of the blast or note: To sound.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > sound of instruments > sound [verb (intransitive)] > wind instruments > note on

blowa1616

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) iii. i. 5 When the blast of Warre blowes in our eares.

1852 Ld. Tennyson Ode Wellington iii Let the mournful martial music blow.

** To blow a fire, and the like.

16. transitive. To direct a current of air against (anything) so as to cool, warm, or dry it. Sometimes with words expressing the effect of the action as complement, as to blow(something) dry.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > gas > air > moving air > set (air) in motion [verb (transitive)] > direct current of air at

blowa1398

wind1605

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xv. cxxxviii. 805 Stones ben ydiggede þat ben strongeliche yblowe wiþ fuyre and turneþ to brasse and metalle.

1566 T. Drant tr. Horace Medicinable Morall sig. Eiij All the reaste mighte blow their nayles.

1593 W. Shakespeare Venus & Adonis sig. Bij To fan, and blow them drie againe she seekes.

a1658 J. Cleveland News from Newcastle (new ed.) in Wks. (1687) 290 And in embroidered Buck-skins blows his Nails.

1841 F. Marryat Joseph Rushbrook II. iii. 61 The winter was cold..and he blew his fingers.

1850 Ld. Tennyson In Memoriam lxx. 98 Blasts that blow the poplar white.

17.

a. esp. To direct a current of air into (a fire), in order to make it burn more brightly. Also with up.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > burn or consume by fire [verb (transitive)] > make a fire > direct current of air into fire

blowa1300

puffc1475

bellows1605

wind1605

ventilate1613

fan1887

a1300 Havelok 913 Y wile..The fir blowe, an ful wele maken.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 458/2 Where be the bellowes, I praye the, blowe the fyre.

1611 Bible (King James) Isa. liv. 16 The smith that bloweth the coales in the fire.

1631 W. Gouge Gods Three Arrowes iv. xiii. 391 Yet were..the sparkes of that fire so blowne up, as dazled the eyes.

1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. i. 8 The Phrase Smiths use..is Blow up the Fire, or sometimes, Blow up the Coals.

1781 W. Hayley Triumphs of Temper i. 374 Chemic fires, that patient labour blows.

1830 J. W. Warter tr. Aristophanes Acharnians 29 The sparks, blowed with a favourable puff of the bellows, leap aloft.

b. figurative. to blow the fire: to stir up or promote strife; to fan the flame of discord. Cf. to blow the coals at coal n. Phrases 3a.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > dissent > be in dissension or at variance [verb (intransitive)] > cause dissension

to make strife1303

to make the feathers flyc1430

to stir the coals1539

to make mischiefc1572

to blow the bellows1590

to blow the fire1670

to stir the pot1826

to stir (also rouse) the possum1900

to mix it1950

1670 C. Cotton tr. G. Girard Hist. Life Duke of Espernon ii. vii. 309 The Chancellor..had also help'd to blow the fire.

c. to blow out: (a) transitive to extinguish (a flame) by a current of air; (b) intransitive to be extinguished by a current of air; (figurative) to expire, die.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > extinguish (fire) [verb (transitive)] > by current of air

to blow out1377

the world > matter > light > darkness or absence of light > make dark [verb (transitive)] > quench (light) > in specific way

flapc1540

puff1547

purge1573

to blow out1617

spit1681

shoot1972

the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > become extinguished [verb (intransitive)]

quench?c1225

aquencha1250

to wax outc1400

slockc1485

slocken1535

to burn out, forth1597

extinguish1599

squench1643

to blow out1842

1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xvii. 212 As þow seest some tyme sodeynliche a torche, The blase þere-of yblowe out.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) ii. i. 135 Though little fire growes great with little winde, yet extreme gusts will blow out fire.

1617 P. Baynes in C. H. Spurgeon Treasury of David (1882) VI. Ps. cxix. 29 As candles new bloun out are soon bloun in again.

1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. vi. iv. sig. Nn5^v A Candle..inclosed in a Lanthorn..'tis in less danger to be blown out.

1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby viii. 65 Squeers..opened the shutters and blew the candle out.

1842 Ld. Tennyson Goose xiii, in Poems (new ed.) I. 233 The glass blew in, the fire blew out.

1845 W. G. Simms Wigwam & Cabin 1st Ser. 58 I reckon I was clean gone, if it hadn't been that she blowed out before me.

†18. figurative. To excite, inflame, arouse, fan (feeling, passion, discord, etc.; rarely, a person to some feeling or action). Usually with up. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > passion > ardour or fervour > ardent or fervent [verb (transitive)] > heighten intensity of passion

blow?c1225

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 188 Ȝef þe feont bitwenen ow toblaweð ei wreððe.

1654 G. Goddard in T. Burton Diary (1828) (modernized text) I. Introd. p. xciii These two interests..being constantly blown up by the enemies beyond the seas.

1677 A. Yarranton England's Improvem. To Rdr. They..blow up a War betwixt England and Holland.

1720 J. Ozell et al. tr. R. A. de Vertot Hist. Revol. Rom. Republic I. ii. 118 Finding the People were blown up again to their former Animosity.

1776 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall I. vi. 127 Some trifling accident blew up their discontent into a furious mutiny.

19.

a. In Metallurgy. to blow in: (transitive) to put a blast furnace in operation. to blow out: to put a blast furnace out of blast, by ceasing to charge it with fresh materials, and by continuing the blast, until all the contents have been smelted. Also said intransitively of the furnace.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > industry > working with tools or equipment > work with tools or equipment [verb (transitive)] > furnace or kiln > put into operation

to blow in1864

society > occupation and work > industry > working with tools or equipment > work with tools or equipment [verb (transitive)] > furnace or kiln > stop stoking or cause to stop burning

to blow out1864

to fire off1884

society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > explosive material > actions of explosive material [verb (intransitive)] > go off without shattering rock

to blow out1864

1864 Daily Tel. 26 Oct. It was a question..of allowing half the furnaces in the district to blow out.

1881 Sat. Rev. 1 May 565 127 new furnaces have now been blown in.

1885 Law Times 79 188/2 A few workmen only were kept on until the furnaces could be blown out.

b. to blow on: (transitive) to solder on by means of the blow-lamp.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > work with metal [verb (transitive)] > solder > with specific technique or material

braze1678

plumba1722

soft-solder1769

spelter1861

tin1873

silver-solder1889

to blow on1893

1893 Spons' Mechanics' Own Bk. (ed. 4) 641 Lead the pipe away to the main supply, and ‘blow’ it on by means of a union suited to the case.

c. intransitive. Of a fuse: to melt under an abnormally high electric current; to fuse. Also with out. Also transitive, to cause (a fuse) to melt. Hence figurative (colloquial).

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > circuit > fuse > [verb (intransitive)]

fuse1887

blow1902

the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > fail or be unsuccessful [verb (intransitive)] > melt or burn out

blow1925

the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > circuit > fuse > furnish with fuse [verb (transitive)] > cause failure

to burn out1924

blow1949

fuse1951

1902 in Webster's Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. Suppl.

1908 Installation News 2 86/1 A fuse has blown owing to a fault on the circuit.

1925 P. G. Wodehouse Carry on, Jeeves viii. 188 However firmly and confidently he started off, somewhere around the third bar a fuse would blow out.

1949 S. J. Perelman Listen to Mocking Bird x. 120 Relax..or you'll blow a fuse.

1962 A. Battersby Guide to Stock Control ix. 81 If a fuse blows at home, the effect is immediate—the lights go out.

1969 Woman's Own 1 Nov. 15/1 This means plugging all three appliances into one 13 amp. socket. Are you likely to blow a fuse?

†20. transitive. To cast (of molten metal). Obsolete.

ΚΠ

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6503 A goldin calf þar-of þai blu.

1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 61/3 They haue made to them a Calf blowen and haue worshyped it.

*** To clear (a pipe, etc.) by blowing.

21. transitive. To clear from mucus or other adherent matter by sending a current of air through; as, to blow the nose, to blow eggs, blow gas or water pipes.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > cleaning or cleanliness of the person > clean the person [verb (transitive)] > clean the nose

snitec1305

to blow the nose?1533

snot1576

?1533 G. Du Wes Introductorie for to lerne Frenche sig. Ci ^v To blowe the nose, le mouchér.

1615 T. Overbury et al. New & Choise Characters with Wife (6th impr.) sig. L3 Hee hath learn't to cough, and spit, and blow his nose.

1795 ‘P. Pindar’ Pindariana 201 He blows..his mean pug-nose.

1828 W. Sewell Oxf. Prize Ess. 80 Socrates..had done what he rarely did, washed, put on a pair of shoes, and blown his nose.

1880 Wood in Boy's Own Paper 24 Apr. Do not worry yourself about blowing the eggs at the time.

1887 N.E.D. at Blow Mod. The plumber will try whether the obstruction can be removed by blowing the pipe.

**** To inflate by blowing.

22.

a. transitive. To swell (up or out) by sending a current of air into; to inflate, puff up.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > gas > air > [verb (transitive)] > inflate

abloweOE

blowc1425

inflate1528

huff1601

sufflate1616

puff1679

plima1691

balloon1906

c1425 Seven Sag. (P.) 1523 Hys body was al to-blaw.

a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sloane) (1862) 26 Þe skyn þou opon..blaw hym with penne; Þenne ryses þo skyn before.

c1550 J. Balfour Practicks 379 Challenge of Fleshouris..That they blaw the flesh, and cause it seme fat and fair.

1674 J. Ray N. Countrey Words in Coll. Eng. Words 48 Tharm..guts prepared, cleansed, and blown up for to receive puddings.

1770 A. Young Six Months Tour N. Eng. I. 65 Boys blowing bladders.

1871 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues II. 33 Because a man has blown himself out like a bladder.

b. To form or shape by means of inflation, as to blow bubbles, blow glass. Const. simply, or up, out.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > gas > air > moving air > set (air) in motion [verb (transitive)] > form (bubbles) by blowing

blow1589

society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with glass > work with glass [verb (transitive)] > specific processes

blow1589

grind1651

centre1688

muff1877

muffle1908

1589 J. Lyly Pappe with Hatchet D iiij Not like to glasse mettal, to be blowne in..fashion of euerie mans breath.

1660 R. Boyle New Exper. Physico-mechanicall ii. 40 Glass bubles, such as are wont to be blown at the flame of a Lamp.

1869 J. Tyndall Notes on Light (1873) ii. 66 Spending his days in blowing soap-bubbles.

1875 R. Hunt & F. W. Rudler Ure's Dict. Arts (ed. 7) II. 659 The bulb of glass being put into the mould, and blown while very hot.

c. Veterinary Medicine. To cause (the stomach of an animal) to swell. (Cf. blowing n.¹ 2d.) Also reflexive.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > ill health > animal disease or disorder > disorders of cattle > of cattle: become diseased [verb (transitive)] > swell stomach

blow1776

1776 W. Marshall Minutes Agric. 16 Jan. (1778) Perhaps it was the core of a cabbage which blowed the cow.

1893 G. E. Dartnell & E. H. Goddard Gloss. Words Wilts. 14 Sheep and cattle ‘blow’ themselves, or get ‘blowed’, from overeating when turned out into very heavy grass or clover, the fermentation of which often kills them on the spot, their bodies becoming terribly inflated with wind.

23.

†a. figurative. To inflate or puff up (a person) with pride or vanity. Also absol. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > pride > swelling or inflation with pride > inflate with pride [verb (transitive)]

swellc1200

bolnea1340

inblowc1384

blow1388

embolne1430

puff1526

inflate1530

puft1563

tympanize1593

overleaven1604

bladder1610

hufflea1652

bloat1677

1388 Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) 1 Cor. iv. 19 The word of hem that ben blowun with pride.

1388 Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) 1 Cor. viii. 1 Kunnynge blowith, charite edifieth.

c1430 Hymns Virg. (1867) 115 Charite..Ne blowen is with pride.

1586 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. I. 156 Crœsus..he perceiued to be blowne and puft vp with pride.

1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxv. 135 When they blow one another with Orations.

a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 454 Blown up with popularity.

1718 Mem. Life J. Kettlewell iii. §110. 462 Never Capable of Blowing up his Mind with the least Vanity.

†b. figurative. To inflate, enlarge, magnify; to make (a thing) appear greater or grander than it really is. Also, To invent a report of. Usually with up. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > exaggeration, hyperbole > exaggerate [verb (transitive)]

flatter?c1225

engregec1386

enhancec1400

extol?1504

extend1509

aggravate1533

exagger1535

blowa1538

amplify1561

exasperate1561

bombast1566

aggerate1570

enlarge1592

rengrege1601

exaggerate1604

magnify1605

hyperbolize1609

to slobber over ——1761

bloat1896

over-heighten1904

overpitch1904

overblow1961

inflate1982

a1538 T. Starkey Let. in Eng. in Reign Henry VIII (1878) i. p. xxxvii Blowyng vp that authoryte wyth such arrogancy.

1666 S. Pepys Diary 2 Jan. (1974) VIII. 2 That we at Court do blow up a design of invading us.

1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) Pref. p. vi I had no apprehension..that the Business could have been blown to this Hight.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 39. ¶6 A Vulgar [sentiment] that is blown up with all the Sound and Energy of Expression.

c. In Photography, to blow up: to enlarge (a photograph, etc.). colloquial.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > photographic processes > [verb (transitive)] > enlarge

enlarge1866

to blow up1930

1930 Pop. Sci. Monthly Jan. 27/3 The little sixteen-millimeter film of such cameras is too small for projection..and when it is ‘blown up’ to standard size, the images often blur.

1959 Punch 21 Oct. 337/3 I blew up the two faces on an epidiascope.

1961 G. Millerson Technique Television Production iii. 29 Reducing the lens angle ‘blows up’ a proportionately smaller area of the centre of the shot, to fill the whole screen.

***** To explode by blowing.

24.

a. transitive. To shatter, destroy, or otherwise act upon by means of explosion. Const. with various adverbs of direction, esp. up; also with such phrases as to atoms and to bits; in technical use often simply to blow, like ‘to blast’.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > make (more) violent [verb (transitive)] > act upon by means of explosion

blow1599

the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > breaking or cracking > break [verb (transitive)] > break to pieces, shatter, or burst > blow up or explode

to blow away1523

blow1599

to blow (shiver, smash, tear, etc.) to or into atoms1612

blast1758

to blow sky-high1823

dynamite1881

lyddite1906

the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > bring to ruin or put an end to

undoc950

shendOE

forfarea1000

endc1000

to do awayOE

aquenchc1175

slayc1175

stathea1200

tinea1300

to-spilla1300

batec1300

bleschea1325

honisha1325

leesea1325

wastec1325

stanch1338

corrumpa1340

destroy1340

to put awayc1350

dissolvec1374

supplanta1382

to-shend1382

aneantizec1384

avoidc1384

to put outa1398

beshenda1400

swelta1400

amortizec1405

distract1413

consumec1425

shelfc1425

abroge1427

downthringc1430

kill1435

poisonc1450

defeat1474

perish1509

to blow away1523

abrogatea1529

to prick (also turn, pitch) over the perka1529

dash?1529

to bring (also send) to (the) pot1531

put in the pot1531

wipea1538

extermine1539

fatec1540

peppera1550

disappoint1563

to put (also set) beside the saddle1563

to cut the throat of1565

to throw (also turn, etc.) over the perch1568

to make a hand of (also on, with)1569

demolish1570

to break the neck of1576

to make shipwreck of1577

spoil1578

to knock on (in) the head (also rarely at head)1579

cipher1589

ruinate1590

to cut off by the shins1592

shipwreck1599

exterminate1605

finish1611

damnify1612

ravel1614

braina1616

stagger1629

unrivet1630

consummate1634

pulverizea1640

baffle1649

devil1652

to blow up1660

feague1668

shatter1683

cook1708

to die away1748

to prove fatal (to)1759

to knock up1764

to knock (or kick) the hindsight out or off1834

to put the kibosh on1834

to cook (rarely do) one's goose1835

kibosh1841

to chaw up1843

cooper1851

to jack up1870

scuttle1888

to bugger up1891

jigger1895

torpedo1895

on the fritz1900

to put paid to1901

rot1908

down and out1916

scuppera1918

to put the skids under1918

stonker1919

liquidate1924

to screw up1933

cruel1934

to dig the grave of1934

pox1935

blow1936

to hit for six1937

to piss up1937

to dust off1938

zap1976

1599 E. Sandys Europæ Speculum (1632) 76 They may..blow uppe the mines of their adversaries.

1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. iv. 185 + 8 I will delue one yard belowe their mines, And blowe them at the Moone.

1605 Act 3 Jas. I c. 4 That more than barbarous and horrible attempt to have blowuen up with Gunpowder the Kinge Queene Prince Lordes and Commons.

1679–88 in J. Y. Akerman Moneys Secret Services Charles II & James II (1851) 50 To Thomas Silver, Gunner, for a reward..in blowing up several buildings, and suppressing the late fire.

1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 80. ⁋9 One of our Bombs fell into a Magazine..and blew it up.

1799 J. Robertson Gen. View Agric. Perth 366 The small expence of blowing a few yards of rock.

1801 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1837) I. 361 After blowing open the gates.

1802 Monthly Mag. 14 31/1 [Robert Fulton] proposes to blow men of war to atoms.

c1880 J. Grant Hist. India I. lxxv. 399/1 The breaching guns..were blown in the touch-hole.

1936 Discovery July 229/1 The old..story that Fulton was the father of the steamboat, blown to bits in favour of the cruelly forgotten John Fitch.

b. to blow any one's brains out: to shoot him through the head (with firearms). Cf. brain n. Phrases 1.

ΚΠ

1816 W. Scott Old Mortality i, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. III. 4 If they attempt an escape, blow their brains out.

c. to blow from (the mouth of) a gun, etc.: to execute summary justice on (a traitor, etc.) by binding him to the muzzle of a gun and firing the piece.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > punishment > capital punishment > execute [verb (transitive)] > shoot

shootc1275

to blow from (the mouth of) a gun1857

1776 Monthly Rev. 55 276 I ordered..the artillery officers to prepare to blow them away.]

1857 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Sept. 389/1 That if there be 10,000 who refuse to use them, they are to be blown away from cannon.

1885 Cent. Mag. Jan. 411/2 That Black Idol..Was..Blown hellward from the cannon's mouth.

1893 W. S. Gilbert Rosencrantz & Guildenstern 11 The Bench of Bishops seize you..And blow you from a gun.

d. Shooting. To shatter (a game bird) in shooting; more explicitly to blow to pieces. So (U.S. slang) to blow apart.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > death > killing > killing by specific method > kill [verb (transitive)] > by shooting

shootc893

shootc1275

to blow away1523

carry1653

to shoot (a person) down1845

stop1845

blow1871

ventilate1875

Maxim1894

poop1917

to blow apart1920

smoke1926

clip1927

cowboy1941

zap1942

Sten-gun1949

to light up1967

slot1987

1892 W. W. Greener Breech-loader 275 I defy any one, after a day's shooting, to point out a single bird that has been ‘blown’. My experience has proved beyond doubt that the choke-bore does not blow pheasants or any other game to pieces at 20 yards.

1920 C. E. Mulford Johnny Nelson iv. 45 ‘Squint,’ said his captor in a hard, level voice, ‘if you give me th' least excuse I'll blow you apart.’

e. To remove by the force of an explosion; with adverbs away, back, off.

ΚΠ

1899 Westm. Gaz. 13 July 7/2 Cartridges in which the caps have been blown back when the rifle was discharged.

f. to blow the lid off (figurative): to expose (a state of affairs). Originally U.S.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or reveal [verb (transitive)]

unwryc825

unhelec1000

to draw forthc1175

unhillc1200

to bring forth?c1225

unsteekc1250

let witc1275

uncovera1300

wraya1300

knowc1300

barea1325

shrivec1374

unwrapc1374

again-covera1382

nakena1382

outc1390

tellc1390

disclosea1393

cough1393

unhidea1400

unclosec1400

unhaspc1400

bewrayc1405

reveal1409

accusea1413

reveil1424

unlocka1425

unrekec1425

disclude?1440

uncurec1440

utter1444

detect1447

break1463

expose1483

divinec1500

revelate1514

to bring (also put) to light1526

decipher1529

rake1547

rip1549

unshadow1550

to lay to sight1563

uppen1565

unlace1567

unvisor?1571

resign1572

uncloak1574

disshroud1577

spill1577

reap1578

unrip1579

scour1585

unharboura1586

unmask1586

uncase1587

descrya1591

unclasp?1592

unrive1592

discover1594

unburden1594

untomb1594

unhusk1596

dismask1598

to open upc1600

untruss1600

divulge1602

unshale1606

unbrace1607

unveil1609

rave1610

disveil1611

unface1611

unsecret1612

unvizard1620

to open up1624

uncurtain1628

unscreen1628

unbare1630

disenvelop1632

unclothe1632

to lay forth1633

unshroud1633

unmuffle1637

midwife1638

dissecret1640

unseal1640

unmantle1643

to fetch out1644

undisguise1655

disvelop1658

decorticate1660

clash1667

exert1692

disinter1711

to up with1715

unbundlea1739

develop1741

disembosom1745

to open out1814

to let out1833

unsack1846

uncrown1849

to bring (out) in (also into) the open1861

unfrock1866

disbosom1868

to blow the lid off1928

flush1950

surface1955

to take or pull the wraps off1964

1928 Daily Tel. 1 May 9/5 He ‘blew the lid’ off a notorious national condition of affairs.

g. to blow out: (of a cock, valve, etc.) to be driven out by the expansive force of gas or vapour.

ΚΠ

1909 in Webster's New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang.

h. To produce by blowing or shooting.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > death > killing > killing by specific method > kill [verb (transitive)] > by shooting

shootc893

shootc1275

to blow away1523

carry1653

to shoot (a person) down1845

stop1845

blow1871

ventilate1875

Maxim1894

poop1917

to blow apart1920

smoke1926

clip1927

cowboy1941

zap1942

Sten-gun1949

to light up1967

slot1987

1871 B. Harte East & West: Poems 18 Walker of Murphy's blew a hole through Peters For telling him that he lied.

1891 C. Roberts Adrift in Amer. 153 If you talk to me like that I'll blow a hole through you.

i. to blow one's top (less commonly blow topper): to lose control of oneself through anger, excitement, etc. (see also quot. 1938).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > violent emotion > be affected with violent emotion [verb (intransitive)]

ragea1400

to blow one's top1928

to go haywire1929

to pop (also blow) one's cork1938

to flip one's lid (also wig)1950

wig1955

to go ballistic1981

the mind > emotion > anger > [verb (intransitive)] > become angry

wrethec900

wrothc975

abelghec1300

to move one's blood (also mood)c1330

to peck moodc1330

gremec1460

to take firea1513

fumec1522

sourdc1540

spitec1560

to set up the heckle1601

fire1604

exasperate1659

to fire up1779

to flash up1822

to get one's dander up1831

to fly (occasionally jump, etc.) off (at) the handle1832

to have (also get) one's monkey up1833

to cut up rough, rusty, savage1837

rile1837

to go off the handle1839

to flare up1840

to set one's back up1845

to run hot1855

to wax up1859

to get one's rag out1862

blow1871

to get (also have) the pricker1871

to turn up rough1872

to get the needle1874

to blaze up1878

to get wet1898

spunk1898

to see red1901

to go crook1911

to get ignorant1913

to hit the ceiling1914

to hit the roof1921

to blow one's top1928

to lose one's rag1928

to lose one's haira1930

to go up in smoke1933

hackle1935

to have, get a cob on1937

to pop (also blow) one's cork1938

to go hostile1941

to go sparec1942

to do one's bun1944

to lose one's wool1944

to blow one's stack1947

to go (also do) one's (also a) dingerc1950

rear1953

to get on ignorant1956

to go through the roof1958

to keep (also blow, lose) one's cool1964

to lose ita1969

to blow a gasket1975

to throw a wobbler1985

1928 R. J. Tasker Grimhaven iii. 28 Unless you say ‘blew his top’ or ‘blow his topper’; then it means to go crazy.

1938 New Yorker 12 Mar. 47/2 If he smokes to excess, he blows his top; that is, he gets sick.

1941 Amer. Speech 16 163/2 To blow your top: vocal loss of temper.

1947 J. Steinbeck Wayward Bus 90 He blew his top and lost his job and came bellyaching to Loraine.

1958 Economist 1 Nov. 387/2 This was not just a newly retired officer blowing his top after years of enforced silence.

j. to blow (a person's) mind, to induce hallucinatory experiences (in a person) by means of drugs, esp. LSD; hence transferred, to produce (in a person) a pleasurable (or shocking) sensation.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > effects of drugs > have intoxicating effect on [verb (transitive)] > induce hallucinations

to blow (a person's) mind1967

the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > effect produced on emotions > have an effect on [verb (transitive)] > with irresistible force

kill1634

to knock sideways1890

to blow (a person's) mind1967

the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > quality of inspiring wonder > be a matter of wonder [verb (intransitive)] > excite wonder

dazzle1649

to take a person's breath (away)1700

impress1736

to make a stare1808

astonish1904

to blow (a person's) mind1967

1966 San Francisco Examiner & Chron. 12 June 33/3 The Barry Goldberg Blues Band..does an LP called ‘Blowin' My Mind’.]

1967 San Francisco Examiner 12 Sept. 26/3 On a hip acid (LSD) trip you can blow your mind sky-high.

1967 San Francisco Chron. 2 Oct. 49/3 Because when the Red Sox rallied to beat the Minneapolis Twins..Boston fans blew their minds.

1968 J. D. MacDonald Pale Grey for Guilt (1969) xii. 152 They had some new short acid from the Coast that never gives you a down trip and blows your mind for an hour only.

1970 Rolling Stone 30 Jan. 1/2 Blue blazer, grey flannel pants, shirt and a beautiful scarf with a chunky Mexican turquoise/silver bracelet and ring which blew the white-shirted jury's minds.

25. figurative. to blow up:

†a. to destroy, put an end to; to ruin. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > bring to ruin or put an end to

undoc950

shendOE

forfarea1000

endc1000

to do awayOE

aquenchc1175

slayc1175

stathea1200

tinea1300

to-spilla1300

batec1300

bleschea1325

honisha1325

leesea1325

wastec1325

stanch1338

corrumpa1340

destroy1340

to put awayc1350

dissolvec1374

supplanta1382

to-shend1382

aneantizec1384

avoidc1384

to put outa1398

beshenda1400

swelta1400

amortizec1405

distract1413

consumec1425

shelfc1425

abroge1427

downthringc1430

kill1435

poisonc1450

defeat1474

perish1509

to blow away1523

abrogatea1529

to prick (also turn, pitch) over the perka1529

dash?1529

to bring (also send) to (the) pot1531

put in the pot1531

wipea1538

extermine1539

fatec1540

peppera1550

disappoint1563

to put (also set) beside the saddle1563

to cut the throat of1565

to throw (also turn, etc.) over the perch1568

to make a hand of (also on, with)1569

demolish1570

to break the neck of1576

to make shipwreck of1577

spoil1578

to knock on (in) the head (also rarely at head)1579

cipher1589

ruinate1590

to cut off by the shins1592

shipwreck1599

exterminate1605

finish1611

damnify1612

ravel1614

braina1616

stagger1629

unrivet1630

consummate1634

pulverizea1640

baffle1649

devil1652

to blow up1660

feague1668

shatter1683

cook1708

to die away1748

to prove fatal (to)1759

to knock up1764

to knock (or kick) the hindsight out or off1834

to put the kibosh on1834

to cook (rarely do) one's goose1835

kibosh1841

to chaw up1843

cooper1851

to jack up1870

scuttle1888

to bugger up1891

jigger1895

torpedo1895

on the fritz1900

to put paid to1901

rot1908

down and out1916

scuppera1918

to put the skids under1918

stonker1919

liquidate1924

to screw up1933

cruel1934

to dig the grave of1934

pox1935

blow1936

to hit for six1937

to piss up1937

to dust off1938

zap1976

1660 Sir H. Finch in W. Cobbett Parl. Hist. (1808) IV. 146 He could not think any thing more dangerous than the writing this Book..it blew up this parliament totally, and damned the Act of Oblivion.

1749 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 24 Nov. (1932) (modernized text) IV. 1444 A despatch with less than half these faults would blow you up for ever.

1791 J. Hampson Mem. J. Wesley I. 105 It was reported, that the college censors were going to blow up the Godly Club.

b. To scold, rail at. colloquial.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > rebuke or reproof > rebuke or reprove [verb (transitive)] > scold

chidec1230

ban1340

tongue1388

rate1393

flite14..

rehetec1400

janglec1430

chafec1485

rattle1542

berate1548

quarrel1587

hazen?1608

bequarrel1624

huff1674

shrewa1687

to claw away, off1692

tongue-pad1707

to blow up1710

scold1718

rag1739

redd1776

bullyraga1790

jaw1810

targe1825

haze1829

overhaul1840

tongue-walk1841

trim1882

to call down1883

tongue-lash1887

roar1917

to go off at (a person)1941

chew1948

wrinch2009

1710 Duchess of Marlborough Let. in A. T. Thomson Mem. (1839) II. viii. 173 This plainly showed that the cabal had been blowing her up, but that she could not, however, contradict her own order.

1807 G. Colman Let. 10 Dec. in J. C. Young Mem. C. M. Young (1871) I. ii. 47 Now for this I will blow you up!

1828 E. Bulwer-Lytton Pelham II. xviii. 171 Lord Gravelton..was ‘blowing’ up the waiters.

1882 B. D. W. Ramsay Recoll. Mil. Serv. I. iii. 55 He began to blow me up for not having provided quarters for his men and horses.

c. To go to pieces, give out, fail. Chiefly U.S. slang.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > fail or be unsuccessful [verb (intransitive)] > collapse or come to nothing

forworthc1000

folda1250

quailc1450

fruster?a1513

to come to nothing1523

to give out?1523

to fall to the ground?1526

quealc1530

to come to, end in, vanish into, smoke1604

intercide1637

to fall to dirt1670

to go off1740

to fall through1770

to fall apart1833

collapse1838

to run into the sand (also, now less commonly, sands)1872

to blow up1934

to blow out1939

1934 in Webster's New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang.

1957 N. Frye Anat. Crit. iii. 178 An epilogue in Plautus informs us that the slave-actor who has blown up in his lines will now be flogged.

26.

Thesaurus »

a. intransitive. To undergo explosion; to go to pieces by explosion; to erupt. Usually with up.

†b. transferred. To give way, collapse.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > falling > fall [verb (intransitive)] > collapse

founder1489

sink1530

shrink1590

subside1678

collapse1732

blow1783

1694 London Gaz. No. 2994/3 Two Magazines blew up.

1783 Page in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 74 13 The work..from the weight upon one part only, might have blown.

1863 C. Kingsley Water-babies vi. 242 The mountain had blown up like a barrel of gunpowder.

c. to blow out (see quot.). Said also of veins of metals; and figurative.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > go or come out [verb (intransitive)] > of something confined > forcibly (of fluid)

to blow out1857

1857 Trans. Illinois State Agric. Soc. 1856–7 2 364 Quantities of the public lands were entered to cover the supposed copper mines. It has all blown out.

1873 J. H. Beadle Undeveloped West xviii. 333 The fluid turned aside to existing crevices, or ‘blew out’ through hollow chambers.

1881 Trans. Amer. Inst. Mining Engineers 1880–1 9 109 Blow-out..a shot or blast is said to blow out when it goes off like a gun and does not shatter the rock.

d. With up. To lose one's temper; to ‘explode’. Cf. sense 24i. colloquial.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > anger > [verb (intransitive)] > become angry

wrethec900

wrothc975

abelghec1300

to move one's blood (also mood)c1330

to peck moodc1330

gremec1460

to take firea1513

fumec1522

sourdc1540

spitec1560

to set up the heckle1601

fire1604

exasperate1659

to fire up1779

to flash up1822

to get one's dander up1831

to fly (occasionally jump, etc.) off (at) the handle1832

to have (also get) one's monkey up1833

to cut up rough, rusty, savage1837

rile1837

to go off the handle1839

to flare up1840

to set one's back up1845

to run hot1855

to wax up1859

to get one's rag out1862

blow1871

to get (also have) the pricker1871

to turn up rough1872

to get the needle1874

to blaze up1878

to get wet1898

spunk1898

to see red1901

to go crook1911

to get ignorant1913

to hit the ceiling1914

to hit the roof1921

to blow one's top1928

to lose one's rag1928

to lose one's haira1930

to go up in smoke1933

hackle1935

to have, get a cob on1937

to pop (also blow) one's cork1938

to go hostile1941

to go sparec1942

to do one's bun1944

to lose one's wool1944

to blow one's stack1947

to go (also do) one's (also a) dingerc1950

rear1953

to get on ignorant1956

to go through the roof1958

to keep (also blow, lose) one's cool1964

to lose ita1969

to blow a gasket1975

to throw a wobbler1985

1871 ‘M. Twain’ Lett. (1917) I. x. 189 Redpath tells me to blow up. Here goes!

1935 A. J. Cronin Stars look Down iii. iii. 497 ‘Good God, Harry,’ Joe blew up dramatically... ‘D'you mean to say it was as bad as that?’

1979 N. Mailer Executioner's Song (1980) ii. x. 652 At this point, Gary blew up, ‘Those sons of bitches, those sons of bitches,’ he kept saying.

III. Senses of doubtful position.

27.

a. transitive. To expose, betray, inform upon. (Formerly sometimes blow up.) Now slang. Cf. 30. Also to blow the gab or gaff (see gab n.³ Phrases 2, gaff n.² 2).

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > information > informing on or against > inform on or against [verb (transitive)]

wrayc725

meldeOE

bimeldena1300

forgabc1394

to blow up?a1400

outsay?a1400

detectc1449

denounce1485

ascry1523

inform1526

promote1550

peach1570

blow1575

impeach1617

wheedle1710

split1795

snitch1801

cheep1831

squeal1846

to put away1858

spot1864

report1869

squawk1872

nose1875

finger1877

ruck1884

to turn over1890

to gag on1891

shop1895

pool1907

run1909

peep1911

pot1911

copper1923

finger1929

rat1932

to blow the whistle on1934

grass1936

rat1969

to put in1975

turn1977

society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or make revelations [verb (intransitive)] > disclose or reveal secrets

tell1537

blaba1616

to let the cat out of the bag1760

to blow the gab or gaff1834

to shoot off one's mouth1864

to give the show away1879

unload1904

to spill the beans1919

to shoot the works1922

1575 R. B. Apius & Virginia sig. Civ Was all well agreed, did no body blow ye.

1702 J. Vanbrugh False Friend iv. ii So! she's here!..Now we are blown up!

1741 S. Richardson Pamela IV. xliv. 275 Thou deservest to be blown up, and to have thy Plot spoiled.

1770 J. Langhorne & W. Langhorne tr. Plutarch Lives (1879) II. 1035/1 So near was the great secret being blown.

1801 M. Edgeworth Good Aunt in Moral Tales IV. 98 He was afraid, that the mulatto woman should recollect either his face or voice, and should blow him.

1821 J. G. Lockhart Valerius I. xi. 202 The time is not yet come to blow his private doings.

1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple III. v. 68 I wasn't going to blow the gaff [= let out the secret].

1925 E. Wallace Mind of Mr. J. G. Reeder v. 165 This officer ‘blew’ the raid to Tommy.

1958 G. Greene Our Man in Havana ii. 99 We can't risk blowing him now.

1958 G. Greene Our Man in Havana iii. i. 111 They're anxious you should take no risk of being blown. It doesn't matter so much if I'm blown.

1961 ‘B. Wells’ Day Earth caught Fire vii. 114 You can't go on blaming him for blowing the story you gave him.

b. absol. To tell tales, ‘peach’. (See also 30.)

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > information > informing on or against > inform on or against [verb (intransitive)]

inform1588

peach1598

whistle1599

sing1612

whiddlec1661

squeak1690

wheedle1710

whittle1735

to blow the gab1785

snitch1801

rat1810

nose1811

sing1816

gnarl1819

split1819

stag1839

clype1843

squeal1846

blow1848

to round on1857

nark1859

pimp1865

squawk1872

ruck1884

to come or turn copper1891

copper1897

sneak1897

cough1901

stool1911

tattle-tale1918

snout1923

talk1924

fink1925

scream1925

sarbut1928

grass1929

to turn over1967

dime1970

1848 ‘N. Buntline’ Mysteries & Miseries N.Y. ii. 48 To ‘blow’ would be to tell of some of my stealing.

a1859 L. Hunt Country Lodging in C. Gibbon Casquet of Lit. (1877) I. 42/1 D——n me, if I don't blow..I'll tell Tom Neville.

1928 E. Wallace Gunner xxxiii. 281 If..Mr. Morell..has blown— has told the story of Taffany's, every boat will be watched.

1967 C. Drummond Death at Furlong Post xii. 154 If Ada blows she gets life, they don't like Crown Evidence these days.

28. Said of flies and other insects: To deposit their eggs. [This sense is apparently connected with old notions of natural history. It has nothing to do with the notion of blowing or inflating meat.]

†a. transitive (with ‘blotes’ or eggs as obj.) Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > eggs or young > [verb (transitive)] > deposit eggs

blow1607

1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 125 Worms..which are not bigger then such as Flyes blow in rotten flesh.

1657 S. Purchas Theatre Flying-insects 44 They [bees] then blow in it [a cell of the comb] a thing less then, or as little as a flye-blote.

†b. absol. or intransitive. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > eggs or young > [verb (intransitive)] > lay eggs

blowa1616

a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) iv. ii. 69 As summers flies..That quicken euen with blowing .

1657 S. Purchas Theatre Flying-insects 44 The matter in which they [bees] blow or breed is something that they gather of the flowers.

1692 T. Wagstaffe Vindic. King Charles xii. 83 It is the Nature of Flies to be ever buzzing, and blowing upon any thing that is raw.

1771 Gullet in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 62 350 This blows in the ear of the corn, and produces a worm.

c. transitive. To deposit eggs on or in (a place); to fill with eggs. Cf. fly-blown adj.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > eggs or young > [verb (transitive)] > deposit eggs > deposit eggs on

blow1598

blow1650

1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 409 These sommer flies, Haue blowne me full of maggot ostentation.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) iii. i. 63 To suffer The flesh-flie blow my mouth.

1650 N. Ward Discolliminium 50 When Eagles are deplum'd, the flyes will blow their breech.

†d. with up. rare. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > eggs or young > [verb (transitive)] > deposit eggs > deposit eggs on

blow1598

blow1650

1650 T. Fuller Pisgah-sight of Palestine ii. viii. 172 No wonder if Worms quickly devoured him [sc. Herod], whom those flesh-flies had blown up before. [A word-play on sense 23.]

29. Used informally in imprecations: To curse, ‘confound’, ‘hang’. (The past participle is blowed.) Also with the implication of ignoring or disregarding; blow!: used absol. as an exclamation of anger or vexation; blow me tight! (cf. sense 22).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > malediction > oaths > [verb (transitive)] > oaths other than religious or obscene

confoundc1330

founda1382

hanga1400

whip1609

rat1691

fire1730

repique1760

curse1761

blow1781

blister1840

sugar1886

1781 G. Parker View Society & Manners I. 48 Blow me up (says he) if I have had a fellow with such rum toggys cross my company these many a day.

1819 T. Moore Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress 46 Says Bill, ‘there's nothing like a Bull: And blow me tight.’

1821 P. Egan Life in London iii. 225 Blow me tight if ever I saw such a thing in my life before.

1827 J. Wight More Mornings Bow St. 55 Blow me if I do!

1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 2nd Ser. 184 The said Thomas Sludberry repeated the aforesaid expression, ‘You be blowed’.

1840 F. Marryat Olla Podrida III. 20 If I do, blow me!

1859 C. Dickens Tale of Two Cities ii. i. 36 One blowed thing and another.

1865 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend II. iv. xv. 287 Blowed if I shouldn't have left out lakes.

1871 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. May 551/2 Oh, blow it, governor.

1881 Daily Tel. 28 Jan. ‘Isn't it rather risky?’ I asked. ‘Blow risks,’ he answered.

1882 J. A. Lees & W. J. Clutterbuck Three in Norway xxiv. 207 Retributive justice be blowed!

1922 F. Hamilton P. J.: Secret Service Boy ii. 70 I'm absolutely blowed if I know what to do.

1922 F. Hamilton P. J.: Secret Service Boy ii. 84 Oh, blow! And I go back to school in ten days.

1933 P. MacDonald Myst. Dead Police i. 6 ‘Blow me tight!’ said Sergeant Guilfoil. For things were certainly happening in Farnley.

1957 I. Cross God Boy (1958) xv. 124 Then blow me if Dr Hutchinson..didn't come padding round the post office corner.

1963 Listener 28 Mar. 540/1 It is no longer proper to use as our second national motto in education ‘Blow you, Jack, our top five per cent. are absolutely splendid’.

30. to blow up(on) (a person or thing) has been used in various senses (see 30a); among others: To take the bloom off; to make stale or hackneyed; to bring into discredit, defame; also, to tell tales of, inform upon, expose (cf. 27). With indirect passive, to be blown upon (see 30b). In this latter sense the simple blow also occurs transitively (see 30c).

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > information > informing on or against > inform on or against [verb (transitive)]

wrayc725

meldeOE

bimeldena1300

forgabc1394

to blow up?a1400

outsay?a1400

detectc1449

denounce1485

ascry1523

inform1526

promote1550

peach1570

blow1575

impeach1617

wheedle1710

split1795

snitch1801

cheep1831

squeal1846

to put away1858

spot1864

report1869

squawk1872

nose1875

finger1877

ruck1884

to turn over1890

to gag on1891

shop1895

pool1907

run1909

peep1911

pot1911

copper1923

finger1929

rat1932

to blow the whistle on1934

grass1936

rat1969

to put in1975

turn1977

the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > slander or calumny > slander or calumniate [verb (transitive)]

to say or speak shame of, on, byc950

teleeOE

sayOE

to speak evil (Old English be) ofc1000

belie?c1225

betell?c1225

missayc1225

skandera1300

disclanderc1300

wrenchc1300

bewrayc1330

bite1330

gothele1340

slanderc1340

deprave1362

hinderc1375

backbite1382

blasphemec1386

afamec1390

fame1393

to blow up?a1400

defamea1400

noise1425

to say well (also evil, ill, etc.) of (also by)1445

malignc1450

to speak villainy of1470

infame1483

injury1484

painta1522

malicea1526

denigrate1526

disfamea1533

misreporta1535

sugill?1539

dishonest?c1550

calumniate1554

scandalize1566

ill1577

blaze1579

traduce1581

misspeak1582

blot1583

abuse1592

wronga1596

infamonize1598

vilify1598

injure?a1600

forspeak1601

libel1602

infamize1605

belibel1606

calumnize1606

besquirt1611

colly1615

scandala1616

bedirt1622

soil1641

disfigurea1643

sycophant1642

spatter1645

sugillate1647

bespattera1652

bedung1655

asperse1656

mischieve1656

opprobriatea1657

reflect1661

dehonestate1663

carbonify1792

defamate1810

mouth1810

foul-mouth1822

lynch1836

rot1890

calumny1895

ding1903

bad-talk1938

norate1938

bad-mouth1941

monster1967

?a1400 Morte Arth. (1819) 47 A monge hem all be fore the dese He bloweth oute vppon the quene, To haue hys ryght.

1634 Malory's Arthur (1816) II. 438 Then Sir Gawaine made many men to blow upon Sir Launcelot, and all at once they called him ‘False recreant Knight!’

1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. at Blaw To Blaw out on one, formally to denounce one as a rebel by three blasts of the king's horn at the market-cross of the head-borough of the shire; an old forensic phrase.

1844 Spirit of Times 20 Jan. 557/2 Go! Get off; I'll not blow on you.

1876 J. Weiss Wit, Humor, & Shakespeare ii. 51 Why..does she not blow upon the doctor?

1877 J. Greenwood Dick Temple II. i. 10 She ain't got nobody but me to keep a secret for her, and I've been and blowed on her.

1916 E. Wallace Clue of Twisted Candle (1918) xvii. 197 I'm not going to blow on it, if it's going to get me into trouble, but if you'll promise me that it won't, I'll tell you the whole story.

1960 ‘W. Haggard’ Closed Circuit viii. 94 There could be only one explanation: Menderez had blown on him.

ΚΠ

1645 J. Howell Epistolæ Ho-elianæ vi. xxxix. 60 I Thank you for the good opinion you..have of my fancy of Trees: It is a maiden one, and not blown upon by any one yet.

1678 J. Norris Coll. Misc. (1699) 325 I wave these, and fix upon another account less Blown upon.

1679 W. Penn Addr. Protestants App. 246 A Man of Wisdom, Sobriety and Ability..if a Dissenter, must be blown upon for a Phanatick.

1709 S. Centlivre Busie Body ii. ii. 26 If I can but keep my Daughter from being blown upon 'till Signeur Babinetto arrives.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 105. ¶5 He will..whisper an Intriegue that is not yet blown upon by common Fame.

1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 464. ⁋1 I am wonderfully pleased when I meet with any Passage in an old Greek or Latin Author, that is not blown upon.

1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones IV. x. ii. 15 The Reputation of her House, which was never blown upon before, was utterly destroyed.

1845 R. Ford Hand-bk. Travellers in Spain I. i. 17 If once blown upon, no one would employ them.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 48 The credit of the false witnesses had been blown upon.

1877 A. M. Sullivan New Ireland xxiii. 276 They had got word that the plot was ‘blown upon’ by some traitor.

ΚΠ

1864 Duke of Manchester Court & Society I. 80 Puebla's character had been somewhat blown.

†31. to blow (in) a bowl: to tipple, to be a habitual drunkard. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > excess in drinking > [verb (intransitive)] > drink habitually

drinka1275

to blow (in) a bowlc1500

use1600

c1500 Blowbols Test. 29 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. (1864) I. 93 Many a throw Of good ale bolys that he had i-blowe.

c1530 A. Barclay Egloges i. sig. Diij v To blowe in a bowle, and for to pyll a platter.

32. To treat (someone) to. U.S. slang. Also reflexive. (See also quot. 1889.)

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > providing or receiving food > feed or nourish [verb (transitive)] > entertain with food

feasta1325

festya1382

rehetec1400

cheerc1425

table1457

treata1578

banquet1594

kitchena1616

junket1642

regale1656

collation1662

fete1812

sport1826

sock1842

blow1949

1889 A. Barrère & C. G. Leland Dict. Slang I. 134/1 To blow off, to treat to drinks.

1896 G. Ade Artie xvii. 155 ‘I noticed that you'd been talking bicycle lately, but I didn't know you were going to get one.’ ‘..I'm goin' to do the sucker act and blow myself.’

1903 C. L. Burnham Jewel 97 Father took me to the horse show... He told mother he was going to blow me to it.

1949 A. Miller Death of Salesman 11 Tell Dad, we want to blow him to a good meal.

33. coarse slang. To fellate. Also intransitive, to practise fellatio.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > oral sex > practise oral sex [verb (intransitive)] > fellatio

fellate1884

to suck cock1902

blow1933

nosh1961

to slob (on) someone's knob1989

to slob the knob1989

the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > oral sex > practise oral sex on or with [verb (transitive)] > fellatio

irrumate1887

gam1910

gobble1928

blow1933

fellate1948

cocksuck1954

to suck dicka1956

nosh1961

to polish someone's knob1963

1933 Brevities (N.Y.) 12 Oct. 1 (heading) Sexy sailors blow! Bawdy boys run riot on high seas as fags stir emotions of rollicking rovers.

1941 G. Legman in G. W. Henry Sex Variants II. 1158 Blow, to fellate or cunnilingue, the object being the person, and not the genital organ.

1959 W. S. Burroughs Naked Lunch 86 ‘Darling, I want to blow you,’ she whispers.

1968 J. Updike Couples ii. 148 The bitch won't blow unless she's really looped. What did the Bard say? To fuck is human; to be blown, divine.

1969 P. Roth Portnoy's Complaint 191 ‘I want you to come in my mouth,’ and so she blew me.

1978 M. Puzo Fools Die vi. 82 There was a whole regiment of floozy Nightingales passing through his hotel room, washing him, feeding him and, as they tucked him in, blowing him to make sure he was relaxed enough to get a good night's sleep.

Draft additions September 2013

transitive. Originally U.S. To open (a safe) using explosives. Cf. earlier safe-blower n., safe-blowing n.

ΚΠ

1871 Galaxy Oct. 495 Such famous marauders as..Amos Leeds (who was happily killed while blowing a safe).

1900 Overland Monthly July 58 Just..fix the engineer and messenger while they blow the safe.

1951 P. G. Wodehouse Old Reliable iv. 51 Are you a safeblower magically gifted with the art of buttling, or a butler who has somehow picked up the knack of blowing safes?

1976 Irish Times 19 July 9/5 Burglars hit an oil depot in Navan, and having watched all the right TV serials, tried to blow the safe.

2005 J. Kaplan Contact Wounds (2007) 210 He's..joined up with these bank robbers and there's been an explosion when they tried to blow the safe and it went wrong.

Draft additions September 2013

transitive. Baseball. To pitch (a ball) at high speed by or past an opponent. Also in extended use in other sports.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > play baseball [verb (transitive)] > actions of pitcher

pitch1848

curve1877

to put over1891

scatter1892

save1899

to put across1903

walk1905

fan1909

plunk1909

southpaw1911

whiff1914

sidearm1921

sidearm1922

outpitch1928

blow1938

hang1967

wild pitch1970

1938 Washington Post 3 June 21/1 Pitching overhand, he literally blew the ball past the batter, but he was not utterly reliant on his fast one.

1952 Afro-Amer. 10 May 15 Work on your curve; you can't blow it by these guys up here.

1964 Call & Post (Cleveland, Ohio) 24 Oct. c1/6 That is the way he pitched in the World Series, hard and fast... He simply blew the ball past those Yanks.

1995 Pittsburgh Post-Gaz. (Nexis) 1 June e13 He's really powerful, though, with his groundstrokes. He just blew the ball past me a few times.

2010 M. Dobrow Knocking on Heaven's Door xx. 266 He couldn't blow the ball by hitters anymore, and the ‘power curve’ just wasn't as sharp.

Draft additions October 2001

transitive. Originally U.S. To cause (the engine of a motor vehicle, esp. a racing car) to break down, esp. through overloading or overheating. Also intransitive, of an engine: to break down.

ΚΠ

1960 Guide to Drag Racing (Fremont Drag Strip) 11/1 Blew, engine trouble of various types, ‘He blew’.

1962 Washington Daily News 30 July 43/3 Dick Brannan, South Bend, Ind., turned 112.92 with his '62 Ford in the warm-ups but blew his engine in the Bond runs.

1978 Detroit Free Press 5 Mar. c2 Ricardo Patrese..seized the lead on the 29th lap, built a sizable edge and blew his engine on the 63d lap.

1986 Grand Prix Internat. July 46/3 The session was interrupted again after Palmer's engine had blown, setting fire to the rear of his Zakspeed.

1998 Indianapolis Star 25 Jan. b9/1 Last year's disappointing run, where he led 131 of 149 laps before blowing an engine just before the race was red-flagged by rain.

Draft additions July 2009

intransitive. North American slang. To be contemptible, tiresome, or disagreeable; = suck v. 15f.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > worthlessness > [verb (intransitive)]

to eat shit1942

blow1960

suck1971

bite1975

1960 R. Reuss & G. Legman in J. E. Lighter Hist. Dict. Amer. Slang (1994) I. 198/2 Hell Week really blows!

1986 H. B. Gilmour Pretty in Pink 81 That won't change the fact that this school blows.

1999 J. Bendinger Cheer Fever (film script) (O.E.D. Archive) 77 Fine. But..this blows. It sucked before and now it blows.

2003 Chicago Tribune (Midwest ed.) 21 Sept. vii. 18/1 I judge a hotel by how good its cheeseburger is... I don't care how many stars it has, if the cheeseburger blows, then I'm getting a different hotel.

Draft additions October 2001

to blow away

1. transitive. To destroy or obliterate in an explosion, or with a firearm; to subject to an explosion, to blow up; (in extended use) to ruin, devastate. Also (now chiefly U.S. slang): to shoot dead. Frequently in passive.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > bring to ruin or put an end to

undoc950

shendOE

forfarea1000

endc1000

to do awayOE

aquenchc1175

slayc1175

stathea1200

tinea1300

to-spilla1300

batec1300

bleschea1325

honisha1325

leesea1325

wastec1325

stanch1338

corrumpa1340

destroy1340

to put awayc1350

dissolvec1374

supplanta1382

to-shend1382

aneantizec1384

avoidc1384

to put outa1398

beshenda1400

swelta1400

amortizec1405

distract1413

consumec1425

shelfc1425

abroge1427

downthringc1430

kill1435

poisonc1450

defeat1474

perish1509

to blow away1523

abrogatea1529

to prick (also turn, pitch) over the perka1529

dash?1529

to bring (also send) to (the) pot1531

put in the pot1531

wipea1538

extermine1539

fatec1540

peppera1550

disappoint1563

to put (also set) beside the saddle1563

to cut the throat of1565

to throw (also turn, etc.) over the perch1568

to make a hand of (also on, with)1569

demolish1570

to break the neck of1576

to make shipwreck of1577

spoil1578

to knock on (in) the head (also rarely at head)1579

cipher1589

ruinate1590

to cut off by the shins1592

shipwreck1599

exterminate1605

finish1611

damnify1612

ravel1614

braina1616

stagger1629

unrivet1630

consummate1634

pulverizea1640

baffle1649

devil1652

to blow up1660

feague1668

shatter1683

cook1708

to die away1748

to prove fatal (to)1759

to knock up1764

to knock (or kick) the hindsight out or off1834

to put the kibosh on1834

to cook (rarely do) one's goose1835

kibosh1841

to chaw up1843

cooper1851

to jack up1870

scuttle1888

to bugger up1891

jigger1895

torpedo1895

on the fritz1900

to put paid to1901

rot1908

down and out1916

scuppera1918

to put the skids under1918

stonker1919

liquidate1924

to screw up1933

cruel1934

to dig the grave of1934

pox1935

blow1936

to hit for six1937

to piss up1937

to dust off1938

zap1976

the world > life > death > killing > killing by specific method > kill [verb (transitive)] > by shooting

shootc893

shootc1275

to blow away1523

carry1653

to shoot (a person) down1845

stop1845

blow1871

ventilate1875

Maxim1894

poop1917

to blow apart1920

smoke1926

clip1927

cowboy1941

zap1942

Sten-gun1949

to light up1967

slot1987

the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > breaking or cracking > break [verb (transitive)] > break to pieces, shatter, or burst > blow up or explode

to blow away1523

blow1599

to blow (shiver, smash, tear, etc.) to or into atoms1612

blast1758

to blow sky-high1823

dynamite1881

lyddite1906

1523 J. Skelton Goodly Garlande of Laurell sig. Cii The blaste of ye byrnston blew away his brayne.

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. xxvi. sig. Yy7^v I heard of my friendes being besieged, and so came to blowe away the wretches that troubled him.

1627 W. Hawkins Apollo Shroving ii. iii. 27 Blow away your enemy out of the field with one blast.

1679 F. Beaumont Knight of Burning Pestle v. i. 65 Ralph.: What's become o'th' nose of your flaske? 1 Sold.: Indeed law Captain, 'twas blown away with powder.

1778 F. Pilon Invasion ii. 33 If the enemy have any artillery, all the under part of the house will be blown away at the first discharge.

1831 J. Wilson Unimore v, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Aug. 156 Generations have been blown away By war in foreign lands.

1900 H. D. Rawnsley Ballads of War 5 His whole right hand had been blown away.

1939 in A. Banks First-person Amer. (1981) 251 A bunch of them wops showed up in a car n tried to blow him away.

1994 Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey) 24 Apr. iii 5/3 HYM was blown away by a sudden drop in the price of several investments derived on Wall Street from the imaginative selling and reselling of common homeowner mortgages.

2001 People (Electronic ed.) 1 July He stood over his kneeling victim and listened to his frantic pleas before blowing him away.

2. transitive. slang (originally U.S.). To disprove or demolish (an argument, etc.) forcefully and emphatically; to show to be false or unfounded, to discredit.

ΚΠ

1959 R. Heywood Sixth Sense 103 But the epiphenomenalistic bosh..that's simply blown away. It's one of the blind alleys of human thought.

1966 R. Giallombardo Society of Women App. B. (Gloss.) 201 Blow away, to silence by forceful argument, to talk belligerently.

1987 Skin Diver Aug. 131/1 That sort of blows away all their theories on growth rates of black coral.

1992 Enroute (Air Canada) Sept. 8/2 (advt.) Sony Compact Audio Systems. With one press of the remote, you'll quickly and soundly blow away the myth that bigger is better.

3. transitive. slang (originally U.S.). To defeat convincingly (esp. at sport); to surpass (a rival or competitor); (Jazz) to outperform (a fellow musician). Cf. earlier to blow out at sense 4a.The use among jazz musicians, though most obviously derived from sense 14e, shows the influence of other uses (sense 12a and to blow away vb.). Although attested later here, it has been suggested that this use in Jazz is the origin of the more general sense: see Comments on Etymol. (1989) Jan. 9.

ΚΠ

1974 Washington Post 1 July d6/2 The classic matchup—the king of sport against the unknown kid—was settled quickly. ‘The kid knocked me right off. He blew me away.’

1976 C. Calloway & B. Rollins Of Minnie the Moocher & Me 73 Each band would play a couple of sets, trying to blow the other band away.

1986 World Boxing Sept. 54/2 Bruno blew away journeyman Larry Frazier in less than two rounds.

1990 Videographic Apr. 29/1 Obviously it is far slower than something like Paintbox, but its versatility blows Paintbox away.

1999 BBC Top Gear Mag. June 43/1 For the first time since they blew away the opposition in 1937–39, the awesome Mercedes W154 GP cars are returning to Donington.

4. transitive. slang (originally U.S.). To astonish, delight, or thrill; to impress extremely, to overwhelm. Cf. to blow (a person's) mind at sense 24j.Perhaps related to the slightly earlier blown away ‘intoxicated with drink or drugs’: see blown adj.¹

ΚΠ

1974 J. M. Young et al. We are being played or blown Away (Library of Congress MS sheet music) (Eu 478437) Blown, blown, blown away By my soft, tequila-fingered lady.

1975 Washington Post 24 May e32/4 (cartoon caption) Days like this just blow me away—seems like all the world's at peace with itself.

1988 G. Lees Meet me at Jim & Andy's viii. 135 They were hot. They blew the Monterey Festival away that year.

1995 Q June 102/3 You Really Got Me by The Kinks. I heard it when I was at school and it really blew me away.

Draft additions October 2001

to blow a kiss and variants: to gesture as if to kiss someone at a remove but within one's view, esp. to kiss the tips of one's fingers and blow across them towards the recipient(s) as a gesture of affection or farewell. Also figurative.Frequently with recipient as indirect object.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > indication > gesturing or gesture > hand gesture > [verb (intransitive)] > finger gesture > other finger gestures

fillip1577

to blow a kiss1611

1611 L. Emley in T. Coryate Crudities sig. i^v And Germany, since thee she needs must misse, In kind remembrance blowes thee a full kisse.

1677 A. Behn Rover ii. i. 21 (stage direct.) Antonio..bows and blows up kisses.

1765 I. Bickerstaff Maid of Mill ii. viii. 38 Blow me a kiss, In pledge-promis'd truth, that's all. Farewell!

1812 H. Smith & J. Smith Rejected Addr. 10 If you'll blow to me a kiss, I'll blow a kiss to you.

1891 T. Hardy Tess of the D'Urbervilles II. xxi. 9 They all three blew him a silent kiss.

1908 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables viii. 87 Anne blew a couple of airy kisses from her fingertips past the cherry blossoms.

1969 Sunday Times 9 Nov. 24/8 A personable girl was waving to me, blowing kisses.

1991 Rolling Stone 21 Feb. 33 The Caribbean breeze meets the native funk, and together they blow a big kiss at the turistas.

Draft additions October 2001

transitive. to blow off: (a) (now U.S. slang) to rebuff, to reject the advances of (a person); to ignore, disregard, dismiss; (b) U.S. slang, to shirk or evade (a job or duty), to stay away from (school or work) without permission or good reason.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > ignore, disregard [verb (transitive)]

fordita800

forheedc1275

forget1297

to let out ofa1300

spele1338

to go beside ——a1382

waivec1400

remiss?a1425

to go by ——?c1450

misknowledge?a1475

misknow1483

misken1494

to go besides ——1530

to let pass1530

unregard1545

unmind1562

overlook1570

mislippen1581

suspend1581

omit1589

blanch1605

to blow off1631

disregard1641

to pass with ——1641

to give (a person or thing) the go-by1654

prescind1654

nihilify1656

proscribe1680

unnotice1776

ignore1795

to close one's mind1797

cushion1818

to leave out in the cold1839

overslaugh1846

unheed1847

to write off1861

to look through ——1894

scrub1943

the mind > language > statement > refusal > [verb (transitive)] > rebuff

rebut1488

reject1529

counterbuff1579

rebuffa1586

repel1593

slighta1616

to blow off1631

squab1812

respue1818

snout1916

stiff-arm1927

to knock back1930

to brush off1941

1631 B. Jonson New Inne ii. vi. sig. D2 Blow him off good Pru, they'l mar all else.

1668 E. Howard Usurper iv. 54 Clean.: Remember he's your Son. Dam.: Thus I blow off that name.

1856 W. S. Landor Anthony & Octavius viii. 74 Let him brush kings away and blow off queens.

1947 B. Schulberg Harder they Fall xv. 253 I was just thinking like a moon-struck freshman when I was..deciding to blow Nick off.

1968 F. M. Spillane Killer Mine 14 I'm a cop, plain and simple. But I'm just cop enough to blow off a job I don't want to get fixed into.

1975 S. Bellow Humboldt's Gift (1976) 440 ‘And where is she?’ I didn't answer. ‘She blew you off. I see.’

1988 J. McInerney Story of my Life ii. 29 Did you blow off work, I ask, and he says he called in and said he was taking the day off, he had one coming.

1993 Coloradoan (Fort Collins) 30 May c4/2 Don't obsess, but don't blow it off as useless information, say health professionals.

Draft additions October 2001

transitive. to blow out of the water: (a) literal to propel out of water by the force of an explosion; (b) figurative (colloquial) to expose ruinously, to show (a person, idea, or scheme) to lack all credibility or potential; to bring about the downfall of, esp. by sudden, drastic, decisive action.

ΚΠ

1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random II. lxv. 321 This discovery had an evident effect upon the sailors, who did not scruple to say, that we should be tore to pieces, and blown out of the water.

1785 F. Pilon Fair Amer. iii. 58 I'll send him a challenge, and make him eat his words; or he shall blow old Cable out of the water.

1803 G. Huddesford Bonaparte xii. 20 When Nelson with Brueys And his ships play'd the deuce, Burnt, captur'd, or sunk, or blown out of the water.

1846 G. W. Lovell Look before you Leap v. ii. 75 Tom: Oh, there is such a row! (Runs out, L.)Spriggs: I've blown him out of the water. Fanny: Oh, Jack, you have ruined him!

1860 H. R. Shipley Privateer's Cruise ii. 22 Why that craft can blow us out of the water in a couple of broadsides; she throws a weight of metal treble our own.

1959 S. H. Adams Tenderloin xxxix. 330 If I can find a way I'll blow the whole damned investigation right out of the water.

1979 J. Cassidy Station in Delta vi. 77 You do everything by the book, or..I'll blow you right out of the water!

1984 J. Bedford Titron Madness xiv. 122 There aren't enough of us to search the ship... We could still be looking for it when they blow us out of the water.

1997 Daily Mail 15 Jan. 52/5 Things finally seem to be looking up for Kelly—which is more than can be said for Biff, whose romantic plans are blown out of the water by Linda.

Draft additions October 2001

to blow out

1. transitive. slang (chiefly U.S.). To defeat convincingly (esp. at sport); (Jazz) to outperform (a fellow musician).The use among jazz musicians may have arisen independently, perhaps influenced by sense 14e: see Comments on Etymol. (1989) Jan. 9–10.

ΚΠ

1892 W. J. Florence Gentleman's Handbk. Poker 91 When a big bet is made which drives out the other players, they are sometimes said to be ‘blown out’.

1956 ‘B. Holiday’ & W. Dufty Lady sings Blues iv. 56 Chu was sitting there and everybody started arguing as to who could blow out whom, trying to promote a [saxophone-playing] competition between Lester and Chu.

1978 Washington Post 11 June d6/6 Before the injuries, we were getting to a point where we were feeling we could blow out anyone.

1980 N.Y. Times 3 June b2/1 ‘We'll blow them out,’ said Mr. Shiel, who has already said he intends to run for Mayor.

1991 Sports Illustr. 4 Mar. 58/2 They're blowing out everybody. They are as good a women's college team as I've ever seen.

1998 Boxing Monthly Apr. 45/2 Mercer easily blows out New Jersey bodybuilder.

2. intransitive. slang. Of a person: to be unsuccessful, fail; to perform badly. Of a situation, plan, etc.: to fall through, go wrong; to come to nothing.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > fail or be unsuccessful [verb (intransitive)]

withsitc1330

fail1340

defaulta1382

errc1430

to fall (also go) by the wayside1526

misthrive1567

miss1599

to come bad, or no, speedc1600

shrink1608

abortivea1670

maroon1717

to flash in the pan1792

skunk1831

to go to the dickens1833

to miss fire1838

to fall flat1841

fizzle1847

to lose out1858

to fall down1873

to crap out1891

flivver1912

flop1919

skid1920

to lay an egg1929

to blow out1939

to strike out1946

bomb1963

to come (also have) a buster1968

the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > fail or be unsuccessful [verb (intransitive)] > collapse or come to nothing

forworthc1000

folda1250

quailc1450

fruster?a1513

to come to nothing1523

to give out?1523

to fall to the ground?1526

quealc1530

to come to, end in, vanish into, smoke1604

intercide1637

to fall to dirt1670

to go off1740

to fall through1770

to fall apart1833

collapse1838

to run into the sand (also, now less commonly, sands)1872

to blow up1934

to blow out1939

1939 H. Hodge Cab, Sir? xv. 221 When a cabman puts on a theatre or restaurant rank, and gets first just as the lights go out and the door shuts, he has ‘blown out’.

a1969 J. Kerouac Visions of Cody (1972) 374 Everything blew out on that Cadillac trip East, there's nothing left.

1970 P. Laurie Scotl. Yard (App.) Blow out, to, for a case, theory, accusation, to fall down.

1992 Atlantic Sept. 50/2 Many of these families had biological children who were doing very well. But these adopted kids seemed to be blowing out left and right.

3. North American Sport slang. (a) intransitive, (of a part of one's body) to become ineffective through injury; (b) transitive, to injure (a part of one's body).

ΚΠ

1984 G. Nettles & P. Golenbock Balls vii. 92 His back blew out on him.

1984 Sports Illustr. 30 Apr. 63/2 Fingers..blew out his arm in September 1982 during Milwaukee's drive to the American League pennant.

1992 Golf Monthly May 174/1 Mediate grew up as a baseball pitcher, but turned to golf when he blew out his arm trying to snap a curve ball.

2000 U.S. News & World Rep. 24 Jan. 56/2 He blew out his knee playing basketball.

4. transitive. Chiefly British. To let (a person) down or shut (a person) out; to rebuff, reject the advances of (a person). Also: to fail to keep (an appointment), esp. deliberately, to jilt; to shirk. Cf. earlier to blow off at Additions.

ΚΠ

1987 Classic Racer Summer 60/1 Then at the last minute Florian's wife..nipped over to the factory, swung the deal in favour of Florian and blew me out.

1989 Melody Maker 25 Nov. 7/4 After blowing out shows at Hammersmith Odeon by missing his Concorde flight, Jerry called up his PR people in London to say..he'd missed two more planes.

1991 J. Phillips You'll never eat Lunch in this Town Again (1992) 90 We have a brief conference and blow out the meeting anyway.

1996 V. Walters Rude Girls xiii. 273 His face had a blank expression. Shree had just blown him out in a big way, but no one would be able to tell.

1999 J. Lloyd & E. Rees Come Together iii. 68 I was drunk and I'd been blown out so many times in the last hour that I'd dismissed the idea of pulling from my mind.

Draft additions October 2001

transitive. to blow a gasket.

a. literal. To have a gasket (gasket n. 3) come loose due to excess pressure.

ΚΠ

1907 Michigan Rep. 149 373 He was cleaning out some beer tanks in the cellar when a rubber gasket blew out from between the flanges.]

1928 Federal Reporter 2nd Ser. 27 891/2 [He] lost his lift because of the blowing out of a gasket, resulting in the ignition of gases or crude oil from the engine.

1944 Q. Reynolds Curtain Rises iv. 94 This car needs to have its valves ground... Its gears are stripped and we are a cinch to blow a gasket.

1969 Surf Internat. (Austral.) I. xi. 13 Nat and Paul push the woodie, it's stoked too, an' finally blows its gasket.

1991 R. R. McCammon Boy's Life i. vi. 81 Old Moses made a noise like a locomotive about to blow its gaskets.

b. figurative (colloquial). (a) (Of a person) to become ill, collapse; (of an organization, situation, etc.) to break down, go wrong (rare); (b) to lose one's temper or self-control, to become uncontrollably angry; cf. to blow a fuse, sense 19c.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > anger > [verb (intransitive)] > become angry

wrethec900

wrothc975

abelghec1300

to move one's blood (also mood)c1330

to peck moodc1330

gremec1460

to take firea1513

fumec1522

sourdc1540

spitec1560

to set up the heckle1601

fire1604

exasperate1659

to fire up1779

to flash up1822

to get one's dander up1831

to fly (occasionally jump, etc.) off (at) the handle1832

to have (also get) one's monkey up1833

to cut up rough, rusty, savage1837

rile1837

to go off the handle1839

to flare up1840

to set one's back up1845

to run hot1855

to wax up1859

to get one's rag out1862

blow1871

to get (also have) the pricker1871

to turn up rough1872

to get the needle1874

to blaze up1878

to get wet1898

spunk1898

to see red1901

to go crook1911

to get ignorant1913

to hit the ceiling1914

to hit the roof1921

to blow one's top1928

to lose one's rag1928

to lose one's haira1930

to go up in smoke1933

hackle1935

to have, get a cob on1937

to pop (also blow) one's cork1938

to go hostile1941

to go sparec1942

to do one's bun1944

to lose one's wool1944

to blow one's stack1947

to go (also do) one's (also a) dingerc1950

rear1953

to get on ignorant1956

to go through the roof1958

to keep (also blow, lose) one's cool1964

to lose ita1969

to blow a gasket1975

to throw a wobbler1985

the mind > emotion > anger > [verb (intransitive)] > become angry > become unduly angry

to have a cow1959

to get one's knickers in a twist1971

to blow a gasket1975

1946 Liberty 1 June 36/3 Better slow down, old man, or you'll blow a gasket.

1959 Jrnl. Higher Educ. 30 449 I am against trustee control of the curriculum... Even if they give it back graciously..to such a ‘new mechanism’ as a ‘rededicated, revitalized and strengthened Committee of the Faculty’... I have seen too many dedicated and vitalized mechanisms blow a gasket to feel otherwise.

1975 Daily Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 22 May 2 No matter how many times you've blown a gasket about a speeding ticket or some other minor infraction, the policeman is still your friend.

1995 Sun 26 Apr. (TV Suppl.) 4/3 Lilly's big romantic evening blows a gasket.

1999 Yahoo! Internet Life Dec. 89 There is one sure way to make great science fiction writers blow a gasket..: Ask them to predict the future.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	blow
释义	blown.¹ Brit. /bləʊ/, U.S. /bloʊ/ Forms: Middle English Scottish and northern blaw, 1500s bloe, 1500s–1600s blowe, 1500s– blow. Etymology: First found in 15th cent., the earliest instances being Scots and northern English with form blaw. Origin doubtful. The etymology of blow has been naturally sought in the stem of the Old Germanic verb bleuwan , Gothic bliggwan* to beat (which is not related to Latin fligĕre ), in Old High German bliuwan , Middle High German bliuwen , modern German bläuen ‘to beetle, batter, beat, drub’ (whence bläuel a beetle), Middle Dutch and modern Dutch blouwen ‘to beat, thrash, drub’, now especially ‘to brake or swingle flax or hemp’ (whence blouwel a brake for flax). The Old English cognate would have been bléowan , but of this no trace is found, and it is not easy on any theory to understand its giving rise to a substantive in the 15th cent. without ever appearing itself. It is still less likely that an English substantive could be formed from the Dutch blouwen* or its German equivalent, when there is no such substantive in these languages. (‘Dutch blowe ’ in Johnson is a figment. Another suggestion which suits the form and accounts also for the early Scots and northern English variant blaw , is that this is the same word as blow n.², or at least, like it, derived < blow v.¹ The difficulty is, that, as to the sense, early uses of the word do not indicate any such origin, while historically, blow n.² (in its own undoubted senses) is of later appearance. The analogy of French soufflet , also, in which a word for ‘a blow with the flat of the hand’ arises out of the verb souffler ‘to blow wind’, though striking at first sight, proves on examination of the history of soufflet to be merely superficial. This may have some association with blow n.²:a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) i. ii. 207 A womans tongue, That giues not halfe so great a blow to heare, As wil a Chessenut in a Farmers fire. 1. a. A stroke, esp. a firm stroke; a violent application of the fist or of any instrument to an object. ΘΠ the world > movement > impact > striking > [noun] > a stroke or blow dintc897 swengOE shutec1000 kill?c1225 swipc1275 stroke1297 dentc1325 touchc1325 knock1377 knalc1380 swapc1384 woundc1384 smitinga1398 lush?a1400 sowa1400 swaipa1400 wapc1400 smita1425 popc1425 rumbelowc1425 hitc1450 clope1481 rimmel1487 blow1488 dinga1500 quartera1500 ruska1500 tucka1500 recounterc1515 palta1522 nolpc1540 swoop1544 push1561 smot1566 veny1578 remnant1580 venue1591 cuff1610 poltc1610 dust1611 tank1686 devel1787 dunching1789 flack1823 swinge1823 looder1825 thrash1840 dolk1861 thresh1863 mace-blow1879 pulsation1891 nosebleeder1921 slosh1936 smackeroo1942 dab- 1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) i. l. 348 He gat a blaw, thocht he war lad or lord, That proferryt hym ony lychtlynes. a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xxi. 259 Bot I gif hym a blaw My hart will brist. 1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure xxxiii. xviii Upon the side I gave him such a blow That I right nere did him overthrow. 1555 W. Waterman tr. J. Boemus Fardle of Facions ii. xii. 279 The Bishoppe [in confirming]..giueth hym a blowe on the lefte chieke. 1611 Bible (King James) Psalms xxxix. 10 I am consumed by the blowe of thine hand. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) iii. i. 57 Well strooke, there was blow for blow. View more context for this quotation 1643 J. Burroughes Expos. Hosea (1652) 66 It is not the last blow of the axe that fells the oak. 1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison IV. iv. 28 Before hard blows are struck, that will leave marks. 1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps ii. §17. 317 A loud dull sound, like that produced by a heavy blow. 1866 C. Kingsley Hereward the Wake I. xiii. 262 With a blow..he felled Dirk Hammerhand. b. figurative. Cf. ‘stroke’. ΘΠ the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > harm or injury > [noun] > damaging shake1565 blow1608 the world > action or operation > adversity > calamity or misfortune > [noun] > misfortune or ill-luck > instance of misfortune or ill-luck > severe or sudden > a stroke (of misfortune, etc.) clapc1330 buffetc1400 flaw1513 wipe?1545 bolt1577 blow1608 attaint1655 bludgeoning1888 1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear xx. 213 A most poore man made lame by Fortunes blowes . View more context for this quotation 1609 Euerie Woman in her Humor sig. D1 Y'are a wag Flauia, but talk and you, must needes haue a parting blowe. 1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1763 I. 213 The hard blows which the great man had given me. 1883 J. A. Froude Short Stud. IV. i. ix. 100 A direct blow at the authority of the young king. c. A stroke of the shears in shearing sheep. Australian and New Zealand. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > sheep-farming > sheep-shearing > [noun] > stroke of shears second cut1846 blow1878 long blow1904 1878 ‘Ironbark’ Southerly Busters 180 If coves would let me ‘open out’, And take a bigger ‘blow’. 1890 Argus (Melbourne) 20 Sept. 13/7 The shearers must make their clip clean and thorough. If..a ‘second blow’ is needed, the fleece is hacked. 1956 G. Bowen Wool Away! (ed. 2) iii. 23 The first blow starts at the top of the brisket. 1959 H. P. Tritton Time means Tucker 26/i Bill would shear to the whipping side, then pass the sheep to me, and..seven or eight blows would complete the job. d. An outcrop of mineral. Australian and New Zealand. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > structure of the earth > structural features > sedimentary formation > [noun] > stratum > position or direction of strata > outcrop cropping1686 outburst1698 outbreak1714 crop-side1715 crop1719 outcrop1805 rock-head1835 nugget1844 blow1879 1879 W. J. Barry Up & Down xxii. 224 I then came to the conclusion that the lode was not a permanent one, but only what is called a ‘blow’ of quartz. 1922 Chambers's Jrnl. Nov. 704/1 Silver-lead (galena) outcrops standing out in great ‘blows’. 1934 Geogr. Jrnl. 84 504 Quartz blows and ironstone reefs were noted. 1965 G. J. Williams Econ. Geol. N.Z. iii. 29/2 A large blow of quartz was found on the surface of the Rainy Creek property in 1872. 2. figurative. A severe disaster, a sudden and painful calamity; especially as sustained or felt by the sufferer, a sudden and severe shock. ΘΠ the world > action or operation > adversity > calamity or misfortune > [noun] > misfortune or ill-luck > instance of misfortune or ill-luck > severe or sudden shake1565 cut1568 dash1580 knock1649 shock1654 blow1678 stroke1686 black eye1712 1678 N. Wanley Wonders Little World v. i. §94. 467/2 The Hungarians..received from the Turks that terrible blow. 1841 T. B. Macaulay in G. O. Trevelyan Life & Lett. Macaulay (1876) II. ix. 130 His death will be a terrible blow. 1847 L. Hunt Jar of Honey (1848) Pref. 10 They have never recovered the blow given them by the invidious heaviness of the Puritans. 3. ‘An act of hostility’ (Johnson). Usually in plural blows = ‘combat, fighting, war’, in the phrases to be at blows, come (or go), fall, get to blows, exchange blows. ΘΠ society > society and the community > dissent > fighting > fight [verb (intransitive)] fightc900 deal993 wraxlec1000 skirm?c1225 makec1275 mellc1300 to fight togethera1400 meddlec1400 match1440 wring1470 cobc1540 toilc1540 strike1579 beat1586 scuffle1590 exchange blows1594 to bang it out or aboutc1600 buffeta1616 tussle1638 dimicate1657 to try a friskin1675 to battle it1821 muss1851 scrap1874 to mix it1905 dogfight1929 yike1940 to go upside (someone's) head1970 the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > [noun] > attack by some hostile or injurious agency onfalleOE oncomea1225 sailing13.. visitinga1382 siegec1385 assault1508 visitation1535 assaulting1548 onset1566 assailment1592 blow1594 insult1603 attempt1662 attack1665 offencea1677 seizure1881 society > society and the community > dissent > fighting > fight [verb (intransitive)] > come to blows to come to strokes1297 to fall in hand (also hands)1448 to fall to1577 come (or go), fall, get to blows1594 to go or fall to cuffsa1616 to fall, get, go to loggerheads1671 1594 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 ii. iii. 84 Come leaue your drinking, and fall to blowes. a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) ii. vi. 44 When Caesar and your Brother were at blowes . View more context for this quotation a1645 W. Browne tr. M. Le Roy Hist. Polexander (1647) iv. iii. 226 Wee..wished for nothing else then to be at blowes with our enemies. 1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. v. 19 Their controversie must either come to blowes, or be undecided. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 556 There was reason to fear that the two parties would come to blows. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 322 Too young to have themselves exchanged blows with the cuirassiers of the Parliament. 1891 Leeds Mercury 27 Apr. 4/4 The hostile parties got to blows and stone-throwing. 4. Phrases. a. at a blow, or at one blow: by one stroke; figurative by one vigorous act; suddenly; at once. ΘΠ the world > time > duration > shortness or brevity in time > shortness in time [phrase] > instantaneously as thou turnest thine handc1225 at a brusha1400 at one (also a) bruntc1450 with a whisk1487 with a whip Sir John1550 in the turn (also turning) of a hand1564 with or at a wink1585 at a blowa1616 in a wink1693 at a stroke1709 in or wi' a whid1719 in the trip of a minute1728 with a thrash1870 the twinkling of a bedpost1871 in a whisk1900 in jig-time1916 a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 (1623) v. i. 50 I had rather chop this Hand off at a blow . View more context for this quotation 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 107 To redeem his Honour at a blow . View more context for this quotation 1836 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers (1837) xi. 102 What it is, at one blow, to be deserted by a lovely and fascinating creature. 1859 Ld. Tennyson Elaine in Idylls of King 149 Each had slain his brother at a blow. b. figurative. to strike a blow: to make an attack, take vigorous action. So, to strike the first blow. without striking a blow: without a struggle. ΘΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > act or do vigorously [verb (intransitive)] > take vigorous action to strike a blow1790 the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin action or activity [verb (intransitive)] > make a beginning in some enterprise beginc1200 to break the ice?1553 to break (the) ground1709 to set (or start) the ball rolling1770 to strike the first blow1849 1790 R. Beatson Naval & Mil. Mem. II. 211 A good blow might be struck here. 1812 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Cantos I & II ii. lxxv. 102 Who would be free themselves must strike the blow. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 542 Deputies, without whose consent no great blow could be struck. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 261 But neither side dared to strike the first blow. Compounds C1. blow-giver, blow-reach, blow-striking. ΘΠ the world > movement > impact > striking > [noun] > person or animal that strikes smiterc1230 blow-giver1548 strikera1586 pulsator1656 hitter1813 the world > space > distance > [noun] > limit of distance or reach > of a stroke or blow dent1567 dint1579 striking distance1751 blow-reach1871 1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. John xviii. (R.) Our Lord Jesus might..haue letted this blowgeuer. 1586 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. I. 57 To submit themselues willingly..without blowestriking. 1871 E. C. G. Murray Member for Paris II. 17 [He] was within blow-reach of them. C2. blow-by-blow n. originally U.S. used attributively to designate a detailed account of the sequence of punches given in a boxing match; frequently transferred. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > narration > description or act of describing > [adjective] > detailed full1529 blow-by-blow1933 1933 Amer. Speech Oct. 34/2 Radio announcers..describe the struggle as they see it, give the blow by blow account of its progress. 1939 Time 23 Jan. 30/3 Joe Louis v. John Henry Lewis... Blow-by-blow report by Clem McCarthy and Edwin C. Hill. 1948 H. Lawrence Death of Doll ix. 225 Maybe we'd better get together. Blow by blow description. 1962 Times 7 June 17/3 Blow-by-blow descriptions of Jonson-Jones masques. Draft additions December 2016 to soften (also cushion) the blow: to make it easier for someone to accept, or cope with the effects of, an unwanted or difficult change in circumstances or an upsetting turn of events. Π 1714 A. Boyer Polit. State Great Brit. July 73 It was said..That to soften the Blow, the Queen..design'd to bestow on him an Annual Pension of 5000 l. for Life. 1814 Juvenile Port-folio 3 Dec. 190/1 Though..necessity urged him to the banishment of Schuvaloff, he resolved to soften the blow, by explaining to him the cause. 1929 Los Angeles Times 7 Apr. (Sunday Mag. section) 13/2 Mrs. S. deeply regretted that she must ask Margaret to leave, but softened the blow by paying her a month's salary. 1960 Economist 8 Oct. 126/1 The ten year phase-out period for fishing in the outer six miles will do something to cushion the blow to Hull and Grimsby. 1996 A. Templeton Past praying For (1997) i. 30 At the very least he could have warned her about the way things were going and cushioned the blow. 2015 Australian (Nexis) 7 Feb. (Sport section) 43 His four goals from five attempts also went a long way to softening the blow of Cooper's absence. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online December 2021). blown.² Brit. /bləʊ/, U.S. /bloʊ/ Etymology: < blow v.¹ Not certainly found before 17th cent., which separates it < blow n.¹ 1. A blowing; a blast. a. of the wind. Also, a breath of fresh air; a ‘breather’ (sense 3); to get a blow: to expose oneself to the action of a fresh breeze (colloquial). ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > [noun] > blast or gust of ghosteOE blasta1000 blas?c1225 ragec1405 blorec1440 flaw1513 thud1513 flaga1522 fuddera1522 flake1555 flan1572 whid?1590 flirta1592 gust1594 berry1598 wind-catch1610 snuff1613 stress1625 flash1653 blow1655 fresh1662 scud1694 flurry1698 gush1704 flam1711 waff1727 flawer1737 Roger's Blasta1825 flaff1827 slat1840 scart1861 rodges-blast1879 huffle1889 slap1890 slammer1891 Sir Roger1893 the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > refreshment or invigoration > [noun] > that which or one who refreshes or invigorates spice?c1225 comfort1377 refresherc1450 refreshment1532 reviver1542 sauce1561 salt1579 refocillation1608 whettera1625 fillip1699 stimulant1728 stimulation1733 yeast1769 stimulus1791 inspiriter1821 stimulatory1821 refreshener1824 boost1825 bracer1826 young blood1830 freshener1838 invigoratorc1842 blow1849 tonic1849 elevation1850 stimulator1851 breather1876 pick-me-up1876 a shot in the arm1922 the world > matter > gas > air > fresh air > [noun] > exposure to fresh air > (an outing for) a breath of fresh air airing1607 blow1849 pipe-opener1859 1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. i. 15 The Etesian (yearly) winds,..beginning to blow from the North. 1777 W. Dalrymple Trav. Spain & Portugal xliv Rain or blow. 1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast iv. 8 The first blow that I had seen which could really be called a gale. 1849 Theatrical Programme 9 July 48/2 A ‘blow’ upon the river. 1856 C. Dickens in Househ. Words 28 June 554/1 I really ought to go out and take a walk in the wind... I was under a moral obligation to have a blow. 1857 R. Tomes Americans in Japan i. 31 The ‘Mississippi’, in doubling the Cape of Good Hope..escaped any very heavy blow, altho' hardly a week passes without a gale from some quarter. a1887 Mod. colloq. Went down to Gravesend by the steamer to get a blow. 1888 C. M. Yonge Beechcroft at Rockstone II. xv. 40 ‘You must be tired out!’..‘Oh no, Aunt Ada! Quite freshened by that blow on the common.’ 1936 R. Lehmann Weather in Streets iv. i. 386 Been for a blow?.. It freshens you up. b. of whales. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > mammals > order Cetacea (whales) > [noun] > large member of (whale) > spouting whale > spout of water spout1823 blowa1851 a1851 F. Cooper in C. Gibbon Casquet of Lit. (1877) V. 211/1 There is the blow of a whale. 1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. xxxix. 359 It had, moreover, more of voice mingled with its sibilant ‘blow’ than I had ever heard. c. of a wind-instrument or other musical instrument; a musical session. Also, of the nose. Cf. blow v.¹ 14e. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > playing instruments > playing wind instrument > [noun] blowingc1000 blastc1275 blow1723 too-tooing1843 blasting1862 windjamming1886 toot-tootling1904 the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > cleaning or cleanliness of the person > [noun] > cleaning the nose snitingc1000 emunction1615 blow1834 society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > a performance > [noun] > musical session session1927 jam1929 jam session1929 clambake1937 skiffle1946 bash1949 blow1962 open mike1978 1723 R. Steele Conscious Lovers (1735) i. i. 16 You went to dinner..when the great Blow was given in the Hall at the Pantry-door. 1834 F. Marryat Jacob Faithful I. iii. 47 The astonishing effects of a blow from Domine Dobiensis' sonorous and peace-restoring nose. 1849 C. Dickens David Copperfield (1850) v. 55 ‘Have a blow at it [a flute]’, said the old woman coaxingly. 1962 Sunday Times 10 June (Suppl.) 3 He is now rarely heard having a relaxed blow in the clubs. 1965 G. Melly Owning-up vii. 75 We played three one-hour sessions and relied on musicians who wanted a blow to fill in the gaps. 1966 Crescendo Oct. 31/3 Ernie Garside scoured the city for a set of vibes, but he was unlucky! So Gary didn't get to have a ‘blow’. 1968 Crescendo May 31/1 He told me that he was drastically curtailing the activities of his big band. The musicians might come together now and again for a blow, but to all intents and purposes it's finished as a regular aggregation. †d. of gunpowder, or other explosive. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > sudden or violent sound > explosive sound > [noun] clapc1440 back-blast1577 bouncea1616 blast1635 fulminating1651 fulmination1651 detonation1677 blow1694 explosion1736 bursting1771 blowing up1772 blowing1799 blow-up1807 pong1823 chunk-chunk1898 chunking1902 1694 London Gaz. No. 2994/3 Hearing some guns go off first, and presently after several Blows. 1720 J. Strype Stow's Surv. of London (rev. ed.) I. ii. iii. 33/1 This Church was..ruined by a lamentable Blow of 27 Barrels of Gunpowder. 2. figurative. a. A boast; vaunting, boastfulness. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > pride > boasting or boastfulness > [noun] yelpc888 yelpinga1050 roosingc1175 boastc1300 avauntment1303 avauntry1330 vauntingc1340 bragc1360 avauntingc1380 boastingc1380 avauntance1393 angarda1400 bragging1399 vaunta1400 crackingc1440 crackc1450 crowing1484 jactancea1492 vaunterya1492 bragancea1500 gloriation?1504 blasta1513 vousting1535 braggery?1571 jactation1576 self-boasting1577 thrasonism1596 braggartry1598 braggartism1601 jactancy1623 braggadocianism1624 blazing1628 jactitation1632 word-braving1642 rodomontadea1648 fanfaronade1652 superbiloquence1656 vapouring1656 rodomontading1661 blow1684 goster1703 gasconade1709 gasconading1709 vauntingness1727 braggadocioa1734 Gasconism1744 Gascoigny1754 braggade1763 gostering1763 penny trumpet1783 cockalorum?a1792 boastfulness1810 vauntage1818 bull-flesh1820 blowing1840 vauntiness1851 kompology1854 loud-mouthing1858 skite1860 gabbing1869 mouth1891 buck1895 skiting1916 boosterism1926 the mind > emotion > pride > boasting or boastfulness > [noun] > a boast roosec1175 avauntc1380 advancement?a1400 vauntise1477 vousta1500 puff1567 rodomontade1591 flourish1592 rodomontado1598 vauntc1600 vauntery1603 vapour1631 fanfaronade1652 gasconado1658 blow1684 gab1737 vaunting1793 windy1933 line-shoot1941 1684 in Roxburghe Ballads (1885) V. 464 They followed their blows, In Musick and Gaming, and acting of Shows. 1883 19th Cent. Nov. 848 Colonial blow, bounce, and impudence. b. A boaster, a blow-hard. U.S. dialect. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > pride > boasting or boastfulness > [noun] > boaster yelper1340 avaunterc1374 braggerc1390 fare-makerc1440 seggerc1440 shakerc1440 vaunter1484 roosera1500 praterc1500 cracker1509 vouster?a1513 boaster1574 Thrasoa1576 braggarta1577 braver1589 glorioser1589 bragout1592 rodomont1592 braggadocio1594 gloriosoc1599 puckfist1600 burgullian1601 puff1601 forthputtera1610 rodomontado1609 ostentator1611 fanfaron1622 potgun1623 thrasonist1626 cracka1640 vapourer1653 braggadocian1654 rodomontadist1655 charlatan1670 brag1671 rodomontade1683 gasconader1709 rodomontader1730 Gascon1757 spread eagle1809 bag of wind1816 penny trumpeter1828 spraga1838 gasser1855 blow-hard1857 blower1863 crower1864 gabber1869 flannel-mouth1882 punk-fist1890 skiter1898 Tartarin1903 blow1904 skite1906 poofter1916 trombenik1922 shooter of lines1941 fat-mouth1942 wide-mouth1959 Wheneye1982 trash talker1986 braggarist- 1904 J. C. Lincoln Cap'n Eri xviii. 329 ‘Cap'n Jonadab Wixon used to swear that his grandfather told him 'bout a gale that blew the hair all off a dog, and then the wind changed of a sudden, and blew it all on again.’ Elsie laughed. ‘That must have been a blow,’ she said. ‘Yes. Cap'n Jonadab's something of a blow himself, so he ought to be a good jedge.’ 1915 Dial. Notes 4 181 That feller is nothing but a big blow. 1968 E. Kellner Devil & Aunt Serena 105 Willadene, whose father was the biggest Blow in Henry County. 3. The oviposition of flesh-flies or other insects.Cf. fly-blow n. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > eggs or young > [noun] > egg(s) > laying eggs blow?1611 exclusion1646 ovation1656 ?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xix. 24 I much fear lest with the blows of flies His brass-inflicted wounds are fil'd. 1875 W. Houghton Sketches Brit. Insects 114 By depositing its eggs (fly-blows). 4. Metallurgy. ‘A single heat or operation of the Bessemer converter’ (Raymond Mining Gloss. 1881); also the quantity of metal dealt with at a single operation. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > [noun] > conversion of metals > of iron into steel > processes involved in overblow1705 recarburization1868 recarburizing1872 after-blow1879 overblowing1879 blow1881 fluid compression1884 pigging back1900 nodulizing1905 nodulization1915 1881 Trans. Amer. Inst. Mining Engineers 1880–1 9 109 Blow, a single heat or operation of the Bessemer converter. 1883 Daily News 20 Sept. 2/1 Instead of blows of three or four tons, we have now to deal with twelve to fifteen tons. 5. Secret information or warning. slang. ΚΠ 1928 Sunday Disp. 2 Sept. 3/1 We've had the ‘Blow’ that the ‘Busies’ are coming. Draft additions June 2013 slang. a. As a count noun: (a) a smoke, a puff (on a cigarette, pipe, etc.) (now rare); (b) U.S. a dose of opium, heroin, or (now chiefly) cocaine, esp. one smoked or inhaled through the nose. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > tobacco > smoking > [noun] > a smoke or inhalation whiff1600 quiff1617 draught1621 puffing1675 draw1823 shoch1831 pull1841 blow1855 reek1876 drag1914 inhale1934 1855 C. Raffaello Eureka Stockade xxxii. 42 Meanwhile, fill the pipe, let's have a ‘blow’ together. 1886 Punch 28 Aug. 99/1 Then we went in for akrybat capers, and arter a blow and a wet. 1921 Federal Reporter 273 787 ‘Would you take a blow now, if you got it?’ I said, ‘Doctor, yes, I would.’ He said, ‘You are too willing; I will give you a scrip, but I won't give you a scrip for heroin.’ 1936 ‘J. Curtis’ Gilt Kid xxix. 278 Could you spare one [i.e. a cigarette], mate? I ain't had a blow since I was knocked off. 1961 C. Cooper Weed xi. 121 He figured she had just copped a blow somewhere and could not help nodding under the powerful press of heroin. 1971 N.Y. Mag. 30 Aug. 27/1 You got a blow for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. You got a blow for the weekend for you and your woman. That's a nice amount of coke. 2009 N. George City Kid 134 I had two women in bed with me and some coke.., and decided I'd rather have a blow than get blown. b. As a mass noun: (a) chiefly U.S. cocaine, esp. in powder form; (b) British marijuana or hashish. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > an intoxicating drug > [noun] > a) narcotic drug(s) > morphine, cocaine, or heroin > cocaine cocaine1874 coke1908 happy dust1912 candy1925 nose candy1925 gold dust1931 Charley1935 girl1953 blow1971 rock1973 product1983 rock cocaine1984 crack1985 1971 N.Y. Mag. 30 Aug. 24/1 That's a nice amount of coke... That's at least $10 worth of blow, probably more with that quality. 1983 ‘Grandmaster & Melle Mel’ & S. Robinson White Lines (Don't don't do It) (transcribed from song) Hey, man you want to cop some blow? Sure, what you got dust, flakes, or rocks? 1994 I. Welsh Acid House 36 The place was full of..petty criminals and cannabis dealers... They get hassled by the racists [sic] pigs for skag when all they deal in is blow. 1995 B. Obama Dreams from my Father v. 86 I had learned not to care... Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it. 1997 H. Kureishi Love in Blue Time 81 Sweetheart, it's all I've got... You take it. My last lump of blow. 2002 S. Kernick Business of Dying (2005) 57 The unmistakable aroma of freshly exhaled dope... I told him..that we weren't interested if he'd been smoking blow in the privacy of his own home. 2011 S. Tyler & D. Dalton Does Noise in my Head bother You? iv. 121 Not this song again! God! Let's go snort some blow! This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online December 2021). blown.³ Brit. /bləʊ/, U.S. /bloʊ/ Etymology: < blow v.²: of recent origin. 1. a. A state of blossoming; bloom; chiefly in phrases in blow, in full blow, etc. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > flower or flowering plant > [noun] > flowering or blossoming flourishing1303 blowingc1380 blossomingc1440 blooming1495 flourish1594 blowth1602 efflorescence1626 flowering1629 blow1744 florification1796 inflorescence1801 flowerage1841 florescence1853 floriferousness1882 the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > flower or flowering plant > [adjective] > having flowers or blossom > in bloom blownc1000 full-blown1576 flowering1592 in beauty1629 flowered1633 in bloom1645 new-blown1656 blooming1664 blowing1667 in flower1697 in (their) flowers1697 abloom1729 blow1744 aflower1869 1744 in Amer. Speech (1940) 15 226/2 The aple trees are full in the blow. 1759 B. Stillingfleet in tr. Misc. Tracts Nat. Hist. App. 226 The wood-anemone was in blow. 1799 J. Robertson Gen. View Agric. Perth 216 When the plants are in full blow, and before their flowers begin to fade. 1822 T. Hood Two Peacocks of Bedfont viii, in London Mag. Oct. 305 I were sorely vext To mar my garden, and cut short the blow Of the last lily I may live to grow. 1866 M. Arnold Thyrsis in Macmillan's Mag. Apr. 450 And stocks in fragrant blow. 1895 G. Meredith Amazing Marriage I. iv. 45 Purple crocuses in bud and blow. b. figurative. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > [noun] > stage of greatest beauty blossoma1250 bloomc1400 flower1609 blow1753 beautyhood1832 1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison I. ii. 4 Her beauty hardly yet in its full blow. 1770 J. Langhorne & W. Langhorne tr. Plutarch Lives (1879) II. 1031/1 This amour was in full blow about the time. 1834 M. Edgeworth Helen II. ix. 182 She is not out of blow yet certainly, only too full blown rather for some tastes. 2. A display of blossoms; figurative a display of anything brilliant. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > splendour > [noun] > fine or gay appearance gaynessc1443 show1539 fineness1553 bravery1573 brave1596 gaudiness1601 gallantry1613 gaiety1625 blow1710 1710 J. Addison Tatler No. 218. ⁋4 Such a blow of tulips, as was not to be matched. a1856 H. Miller Testimony of Rocks (1857) i. 49 It exhibits no rich blow of colour. 3. Manner, style, or time of blossoming. Also figurative. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > flower or flowering plant > [noun] > flowering or blossoming > season, period, or manner of efflorescence1626 blow1748 anthesis1783 florescence1793 1748 S. Richardson Clarissa V. xxi. 193 I have..added to it all the flowers of the same blow. a1856 H. Miller Testimony of Rocks (1857) xi. 500 Flowers of richer colour and blow. 4. Blossom. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > [noun] > blossom or flower(s) blossom971 bledec975 blooma1400 flourishinga1400 floweringa1400 flourisha1500 blowing1578 blooming1622 pip1753 floriage1782 florescence1793 blow1797 flowerage1831 bloom-flinder1840 gosling1847–78 snow1859 fleuret1868 bloomagea1876 blossomry1901 1797 J. Downing Treat. Disorders Horned Cattle 31 Take Fox-glove blows. 1866 Morning Star 2 Oct. The blow of the cotton~wood borne by the winds of spring. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online December 2021). blowv.¹ Brit. /bləʊ/, U.S. /bloʊ/ Forms: Past tense blew. Past participle blown (also in sense 29 blowed). Forms: Old English bláwan, Middle English blawen, (Middle English blauwen), blouwen, Middle English bloawen, Middle English blowen, blowyn, Middle English–1600s blowe, Middle English– blow; (northern) Middle English blau, Middle English–1500s blawe, Middle English– blaw. past tense Old English bleów, bléw, Middle English bleu, Middle English blwe, bleeȝ, bleȝ, Middle English blu, Middle English blue, Middle English–1500s blewe, Middle English– blew. Also Middle English blowide, 1600s blowd, blowede, 1500s– blowed. past participle Old English bláwen, blouen, Middle English–1600s blowen, 1500s–1600s blowne, 1600s– blown; also Middle English y-blowe, blowun, blowe, Middle English–1500s i-blowe, 1600s bloun; northernMiddle English blaun, Middle English blawun, Middle English blawen, 1500s blawne, blawin, blauen, blaw, 1500s– blawn. Also 1500s– blowed. Etymology: Old English bláwan, past tense bléow, participle bláwen, elsewhere as a strong verb only in Old High German blâ(h)an (past participle blâhan, blân) < Gothic type blaian, baiblô, Germanic ? blæ̂jan, cognate with Latin flāre* to blow. (In Old High German this, like other verbs with ai in Gothic, passed into the weak conjugation blâen, blâhen, blâjen, blâwen, blân, Middle High German blæjen, blæwen, blæn, German blähen.) In Old English only in a few senses: see 1, 2, 14; but an immense development of sense and constructions has taken place in middle and modern English, and in later times distinct senses have influenced each other, or run together, in a manner difficult to exhibit in a linear series. I. To produce a current of air; to set in motion with a current of air. * intransitively. 1. a. intransitive. The proper verb naming the motion or action of the wind, or of an aerial current. Sometimes with subject it, as ‘it blows hard’, and often with complement, as ‘it blew a gale, a hurricane’. to blow great guns: to blow a violent gale. to blow up: to rise, increase in force of blowing. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > blow (of the wind) [verb (intransitive)] blowc1000 standc1275 waffc1440 respire?a1475 fan1600 suffle1622 the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > breaking or cracking > break [verb (intransitive)] > shatter or break to pieces or burst > blow up or explode to blow up1697 to blow sky-high1823 poof1915 the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > blow (of the wind) [verb (intransitive)] > blow strongly > increase rise?1520 fresh1599 to come up1647 freshen1669 ascend1715 to get up1834 to blow up1840 stiffen1844 to breeze up1867 to pipe up1901 c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Luke (Corpus Cambr.) xii. 55 Þonne ge geseoð suðan blawan. c1175 Lamb. Hom. 167 Lutel he hit scaweð..hu biter wind þer blaweð. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 101 Ȝef awint blaweð alute towart us. a1300 Cursor Mundi 532 Wynd þat blaws o loft. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Ecclus. xliii. 22 The cold northerne wind bleeȝ [a1425 L.V. blew]. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 130 Il uente, it bloweth. 1574 J. Baret Aluearie B 765 I turne saile that waie as the winde bloweth. 1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler 208 Heark how it rains and blows . View more context for this quotation 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 112 All the West Allies of stormy Boreas blow . View more context for this quotation 1786 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 146 November chill blaws loud wi' angry sugh. 1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §313 It blowed very hard, especially on the night of lighting. 1802 G. Morris in J. Sparks Life G. Morris (1832) III. 166 Straws and feathers..show which way the wind blows. 1840 F. Marryat Poor Jack x. 60 The gale had blown up again. 1854 H. Miller My Schools & Schoolmasters (1858) 14 It soon began to blow great guns. b. blow high, blow low: whatever may happen. U.S. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > chance or causelessness > chance [phrase] > come what may fall what can (also may, will) fallc1225 avalȝe que valȝe1487 fall back, fall edge?1553 blow high, blow low1774 and chance the ducks1874 (come) rain or shine1905 1774 P. V. Fithian Jrnl. & Lett. (1900) 235 Ben is in a wonderful Fluster lest he shall have no company to-morrow at the Dance—But blow high, blow low, he need not be afraid; Virginians..will dance or die! 1776 C. Dibdin Seraglio i. 11 Blow high, blow low, let tempests tear The mainmast by the board.] a1861 T. Winthrop John Brent (1883) vi. 52 I've booked Brother John fur Paradise; Brother Joseph's got a white robe fur him, blow high, blow low! 1923 R. D. Paine Comrades Rolling Ocean x. 171 There were three musketeers..who were blithely resolved to stand by each other through thick and thin, blow high, blow low. 2. a. To send from the mouth a current of air (stronger than that produced by ordinary breathing); to produce a current of air in any way, e.g. said of bellows. (Cf. sense 7.) ΘΚΠ the world > matter > gas > air > moving air > move (of air) [verb (intransitive)] > produce current of air blowc1000 huff1582 c1000 West Saxon Gospels: John (Corpus Cambr.) xx. 22 Þa bleow he on hi and cwæð to him under-foð haline gast. 1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Ezek. xxi. 31 In fier of my wodnes Y shal blowe in thee. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 12540 He..hent his hand and bleu þar-in. 1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. YYYvi She waueth with her wynges & so bloweth, that by her mouyng she ingendreth an heate in them. 1572 G. Gascoigne Wks. (1587) 1 My lights and lungs like bellows blow. a1620 J. Dyke Divers Select Serm. (1640) 63 When the word is preached, then the Bellowes blowes to kindle the fire. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica 176 Serrous or jarring motion like that which happeneth while we blow on the teeth of a combe through paper. View more context for this quotation 1715 J. T. Desaguliers tr. N. Gauger Fires Improv'd 42 I blowed upon the Thermometer. 1840 H. W. Longfellow Village Blacksmith in Knickerbocker Nov. 419 You can hear his bellows blow. b. to blow hot and cold: (figurative) to be or to do one thing at one time, another at another; to be inconsistent or vacillating. (In reference to one of Æsop's Fables.) ΘΚΠ the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > inconstancy > be inconstant [verb (intransitive)] flitc1386 waivec1425 flitter1543 to play fast and loose1557 range1557 vary1557 halve1566 to blow hot and cold1577 flirt1578 laveer1598 to weathercock it1654 1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. I. ii. vi. sig. Lviij^v/1 One which out of one mouth, doth blowe both hoat and cold. 1638 W. Chillingworth Relig. Protestants i. ii. §113. 95 These men can blow hot and cold out of the same mouth to serve severall purposes. 1690 W. Walker Idiomatologia Anglo-Lat. 61 With the same breath to blow hot and cold. 1694 R. L'Estrange Fables of Aesop (1699) 219 Says the satyr, ‘If you have gotten a trick of blowing hot and cold out of the same mouth, I've e'en done with ye.’] 1855 J. L. Motley Rise Dutch Republic III. v. v. 329 Being constantly ordered ‘to blow hot and cold with the same breath’. †3. To make a blowing sound; to hiss, whistle. spec. of a deer. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > [verb (intransitive)] > make blowing sound blow1340 whiff1605 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 32 Þe childe þet ne dar guo his way vor þe guos þet blauþ. c1475 (?c1425) Avowing of King Arthur (1984) l. 230 All wroth wex þat sqwyne, Blu and brayd vppe his bryne. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Zech. x. 8 I wil blowe [1611 hisse] for them & gather them together. 1868 Amer. Naturalist 2 467 The hunter says he [sc. the buck deer] ‘blows’; it may be a note of anger or defiance. 4. a. To breathe hard, pant, puff. to blow out: to be winded. (Cf. sense 8.) ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > become weary or exhausted [verb (intransitive)] > specific forfare1393 forlie1423 to blow outc1440 flakec1500 to break one's brain, mind, wind1598 stress1756 to hit the wall1974 the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > disordered breathing > have or cause breathing disorder [verb (intransitive)] > become short of breath shortc1000 to blow outc1440 stuff1488 to break one's brain, mind, wind1598 the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > disordered breathing > have or cause breathing disorder [verb (intransitive)] > become short of breath > pant fnastc1000 puffc1300 pantc1350 fnesec1386 blowc1440 bluster1530 pech1538 pantlea1626 pank1669 heave1679 fuff1721 pipe1814 huff1881 c1440 Erle Tolous 442 in Ritson Met. Rom. III. 111 The thrydd fledd, and blewe owt faste, The erle ovyrtoke hym at the laste. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1960) xii. xii. 234 At sic debait that baith thai pant and blaw. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 458/2 He bloweth lyke a horse that came newe from galoppyng. 1600 R. Armin Foole vpon Foole sig. C2^v They puft and they blow'd, they ranne as swift as a pudding would creepe. 1715 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad I. ii. 465 Each spent Courser at the Chariot blow. 1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess v. 95 The huge bush-bearded Barons heaved and blew. b. To breathe; to take breath. dialect. to blow short: (of a horse) to be broken-winded. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > respiratory organs > breathing > breathe [verb (intransitive)] etheOE breathea1398 andea1400 respire?a1425 blowc1440 queasea1500 suspire1600 respirate1668 rake1793 the world > health and disease > ill health > animal disease or disorder > disorders of horses > of horse: have disorder [verb (intransitive)] > respiratory disorders to blow shortc1440 whistle1898 c1440 York Myst. xxxi. 142 Nowe gois a-bakke both, and late þe boy blowe. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xxxii^v Pursy is a dysease in a horse body, and maketh hym to blowe short. 1647 N. Ward Simple Cobler Aggawam 34 They gave him such straynes as made him blow short ever since. 1786 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 167 Thou never lap, and sten't, an' breastet, Then stood to blaw. 1860 J. G. Holland Miss Gilbert's Career ii. 29 I'll sit here and blow, till he comes around. 5. Of whales, etc.: To eject water and air from the ‘blow-holes’, before taking in fresh air; to spout. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > mammals > order Cetacea (whales) > [verb (intransitive)] > miscellaneous actions of whale calvec1000 spout1683 blow1726 peak1839 sound1839 fluke1840 mill1840 breach1843 white-water1856 round1881 1726 P. Dudley in Philos. Trans. 1725 (Royal Soc.) 33 261 Once in a Quarter of an Hour..they are observed to rise and blow, spouting out Water and Wind, and to draw in fresh Air. 1779 T. Forrest Voy. New Guinea 128 Many porpoises blowing near us. 1851 H. Melville Moby-Dick xlvii. 239 The Sperm Whale blows as a clock ticks. 6. To utter loud or noisy breath, to bluster: Thesaurus » Categories » a. To boast, brag (chiefly regional). b. To fume, storm, speak angrily (chiefly colloquial). ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > anger > manifestation of anger > show anger [verb (intransitive)] > speak angrily spitc1386 ragea1400 blowc1475 blustera1494 storm?1553 pelt1594 tear1602 fare1603 to speak or look daggers1603 to blow hot coalsc1626 rant1647 scream1775 to pop off1914 to carry on1947 c1475 (?c1425) Avowing of King Arthur (1984) l. 354 I, Kay, þat þou knawes, Þat owte of tyme bostus and blawus. c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 97 Blouing veynly wiþ fleschli wit. ?1520 J. Rastell Nature .iiii. Element sig. E.i Why man what eylyth y^e so to blow? 1790 R. Burns in J. Johnson Scots Musical Museum III. 306 He brags and he blaws o' his siller. 1863 C. C. Clarke Shakespeare-characters x. 270 He has been blowing and storming about this drum. 1873 A. Trollope Austral. & N.Z. xxv In the colonies..when a gentleman sounds his own trumpet he ‘blows.’ 1873 M. A. Barker Station Amusem. N.Z. xiv. 237 I..mention this, not out of any desire to ‘blow’ about our sheep. 1878 Cornhill Mag. June 680 ‘My sister ain't the best,’ the child declared, ‘she's always blowing at me.’ 1885 R. C. Praed Austral. Life ii. 45 He was famous for ‘blowing’, in Australian parlance,..of his exploits. 1896 H. A. Bryden Tales S. Afr. iii. 68 You know I don't ‘blow’, Jim, or spout tall yarns. 1917 Chrons. N.Z.E.F. 5 Sept. 35/2 I don't care about blowin' about it. Categories » c. dialect. To smoke a pipe: see 9b. ** causal uses of the preceding. 7. a. Beside the expressions to blow with bellows, and the bellows blow (see 2), one is said to blow the bellows, i.e. to work them so as to make them blow. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > industry > working with tools or equipment > work with tools or equipment [verb (intransitive)] > other tools or equipment filec1230 to blow the bellowsc1440 pump1508 vice1612 plane1678 shovel1685 turn1796 brake1862 pestle1866 chisel1873 roll1881 slice1893 leverage1937 monkeywrench1993 c1440 Leg. Rood (1871) 85 Scho blew þe belise ferly fast. 1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure xxxvi. xxiii Afrycus Auster made surreccion, Blowyng his bellowes by great occasion. ?1577 J. Northbrooke Spiritus est Vicarius Christi: Treat. Dicing 55 Many which lacke armes may worke with their feete, to blowe Smithes bellowes. 1880 G. Grove Dict. Music II. 577 The four bellows are blown in a manner which we here meet with for the first time. †b. figurative. to blow the bellows: to stir up passion, strife, etc. Obsolete. (Cf. to blow the fire at sense 17b.) ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > dissent > be in dissension or at variance [verb (intransitive)] > cause dissension to make strife1303 to make the feathers flyc1430 to stir the coals1539 to make mischiefc1572 to blow the bellows1590 to blow the fire1670 to stir the pot1826 to stir (also rouse) the possum1900 to mix it1950 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii.iii. sig. O8 He cast for to..Blow the bellowes to his swelling vanity. a1657 J. Balfour Hist. Wks. (1824) II. 263 The bischopes blouing the bellowes, and still craying fyre and suord. 8. (causative of 4.) To cause to pant, to put out of breath: usually of horses. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > weary or exhaust [verb (transitive)] > put out of breath breathec1425 abreathea1500 overbreathe1586 blow1651 outwind1708 wind1811 pump1858 society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride (a horse or other animal) [verb (transitive)] > exhaust (a horse) by excessive riding override1609 jade1615 blow1651 to ride down1682 to sew up1826 to stump up1853 bucket1856 stump1883 the world > health and disease > ill health > animal disease or disorder > disorders of horses > cause injury or disease of horse [verb (transitive)] > respiratory disorders wind-break1638 blow1651 1651 W. Davenant Gondibert ii. xliii From thence, well blown, he [i.e. Stag] comes to the Relay. 1760 Hist. Europe in Ann. Reg. 24/1 They came up five miles on a full trot without being blown. 1771 P. Parsons Newmarket I. 108 How much water, given to a horse before he starts, will blow him. 1816 W. Scott Old Mortality xii, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. II. 304 Move steadily, and do not blow the horses. 1859 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Mar. 306/1 The Russians..were..pretty well blown in the pursuit. ******* transitive (with the air, breath, etc., as object.) 9. a. transitive. To breathe out, emit, produce (a current of air, breath, etc.) with the mouth; to give forth by breathing; also to force or cause to pass (a current of air) through, into, upon, by other means. Also figurative. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > gas > air > moving air > set (air) in motion [verb (transitive)] > produce (a current of air) blowc1175 c1175 Lamb. Hom. 75 Þan deþliche atter · þet þe alde deouel blou on adam. c1175 Lamb. Hom. 99 [Crist ableow þana halȝa gast ofer þa apostlas]. c1375 J. Wyclif Antecrist (Todd) 148 Þei blowen on hem a stynkand breþe. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Wisd. xv. 11 That bleȝ [a1425 L.V. blowide] in to hym a lifli spirit. 1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure xxxvi. iii A fende..Blowyng out fyre. 1591 E. Spenser Ruines of Rome in Complaints xxvi Where colde Boreas blowes his bitter stormes. 1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan vi. i. ii Good thoughts are blown into a man by God. 1784 J. Adams Diary 10 July (1961) III. 170 If inflammable Air were blown thro the Pipe. 1841 H. W. Longfellow Wreck of Hesperus in Boston Bk. (ed. 3) 74 He blew a whiff from his pipe. 1866 T. H. Huxley Lessons Elem. Physiol. (1869) iv. 96 If a pipe be now fitted into the bronchus, and air blown through it. b. To smoke (tobacco); also intransitive (dialect) But to blow a cloud is a common figurative expression for to smoke a pipe. See also cloud n. 5b. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > tobacco > smoking > smoke [verb (intransitive)] whiff1602 smoke1617 to blow (raise obs.) a cloud1699 drawa1774 smook1805 blow1808 to have (or take) a smoke1835 tobacconize1876 shoch1898 inhale1933 fag1940 to have a burn1941 the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > tobacco > smoking > use as material for smoking [verb (transitive)] > use in the act of smoking drone1600 to take the whiff1600 whiffc1616 puff1664 smoke1707 fuff1786 blow1808 burn1929 chuff1940 1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. (at cited word) To blaw Tobacco; to blaw. 1848 Sessions Mar. 847 I could sit down and blow my 'bacco. c1855 N. Hawthorne Mother Rigby's Pipe i Smoke, puff, blow thy cloud. 1856 H. Mayhew Great World London 5 Smoke a pipe of baccer..blow your yard of tripe of nosey-me-knacker. c. To lay out or get through (money) in a lavish manner; to squander; = blue v.² 1 slang. Also reflexive. (U.S. dialect): see quot. 1896. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > management of money > expenditure > spend [verb (reflexive)] > spend freely blow1874 society > trade and finance > management of money > expenditure > waste of money or extravagance > spend extravagantly [verb (transitive)] to piss (money, an opportunity, etc.) against the wall1540 lavish1542 melt1607 to piss away1628 unbowel1647 tap1712 sport1785 waster1821 blue1846 spree1859 to frivol away1866 blow1874 bust1878 skittle1883 to blow in1886 burst1892 bang1897 1874 Hotten's Slang Dict. (rev. ed.) 86 Blew, or blow,..to lose or spend money. 1892 Daily News 5 Sept. 6/3 Sometimes you'll blow a little money..but another week you may make a lot. 1896 Dial. Notes 1 412 ‘To blow oneself’, to spend money freely. 1902 S. E. White Blazed Trail xxviii. 193 ‘Well, bub,’ finally drawled a voice from the corner, ‘blowed that stake you made out of Radway, yet?’ 1904 W. H. Smith Promoters v. 100 The Church people in England were the folks that had the money to blow. 1921 R. D. Paine Comrades Rolling Ocean iv. 57 When I pick up easy money, I just naturally have to blow it. 1932 H. Simpson Boomerang x. 244 A thousand pounds, which she proposed..to blow in a couple of months' high living. 1957 Economist 21 Dec. 1030/1 He will probably feel able to blow with a clear conscience the £2,000. d. to blow in: to spend, squander. Also absol. slang (chiefly U.S.). ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > management of money > expenditure > waste of money or extravagance > spend extravagantly [verb (transitive)] to piss (money, an opportunity, etc.) against the wall1540 lavish1542 melt1607 to piss away1628 unbowel1647 tap1712 sport1785 waster1821 blue1846 spree1859 to frivol away1866 blow1874 bust1878 skittle1883 to blow in1886 burst1892 bang1897 1886 in Amer. Speech (1950) 25 30/2 When Davis has a dollar he's dead bent on blowing it all in. 1887 F. Francis Saddle & Mocassin 144 ‘Sam went off on a bend.’ ‘To blow in?’ Jake laughed assent. 1894 Amer. Newspaper The third ‘blows in’ his money in a glorious drunk at the saloon. 1903 Outlook 7 Nov. 586 He had blown in all his earnings in a grand frolic. 1934 J. T. Farrell Young Manhood (1936) i. 163 Last winter I got sixty bucks from him for tuition and books and blew it in. 1938 R. Finlayson Brown Man's Burden 24 After breakfast I'll borrow Henare's car and we'll blow in the cash. 1946 F. Sargeson That Summer 35 Then he'd go to town and blow his money in, usually at the races. e. To lose or bungle (an opportunity, etc.); to mishandle (a situation); to ruin, spoil. Frequently with it. slang (originally U.S.). ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > damage > damage or injure [verb (transitive)] mareOE shendOE hinderc1000 amarOE awemc1275 noyc1300 touchc1300 bleche1340 blemisha1375 spill1377 misdoa1387 grieve1390 damagea1400 despoil?a1400 matea1400 snapea1400 mankc1400 overthrowa1425 tamec1430 undermine1430 blunder1440 depaira1460 adommage?1473 endamage1477 prejudicec1487 fulyie1488 martyra1500 dyscrase?1504 corrupt1526 mangle1534 danger1538 destroy1542 spoil1563 ruinate1564 ruin1567 wrake1570 injury1579 bane1587 massacre1589 ravish1594 wrong1595 rifle1604 tainta1616 mutilea1618 to do violence toa1625 flaw1665 stun1676 quail1682 maul1694 moil1698 damnify1712 margullie1721 maul1782 buga1790 mux1806 queer1818 batter1840 puckeroo1840 rim-rack1841 pretty1868 garbage1899 savage1899 to do in1905 strafe1915 mash1924 blow1943 nuke1967 mung1969 the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > do something unskilfully [verb (intransitive)] > bungle bungle1549 to put the wrong foot before1590 bebotch1609 to put one's foot in (also into) it1796 mess1823 boggle1853 to make a muff of oneself1884 duff1890 bobble1908 miscue1941 blow1943 to make a porridge (of)1969 sheg1981 the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > be unskilled in [verb (transitive)] > bungle botch1530 bungle1530 mumble1588 muddle1605 mash1642 bumble?1719 to fall through ——1726 fuck1776 blunder1805 to make a mull of1821 bitch1823 mess1823 to make a mess of1834 smudge1864 to muck up1875 boss1887 to make balls of1889 duff1890 foozle1892 bollocks1901 fluff1902 to make a muck of1903 bobble1908 to ball up1911 jazz1914 boob1915 to make a hash of1920 muff1922 flub1924 to make a hat of1925 to ass up1932 louse1934 screw1938 blow1943 to foul up1943 eff1945 balls1947 to make a hames of1947 to arse up1951 to fuck up1967 dork1969 sheg1981 bodge1984 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > lack of truth, falsity > mistake [phrase] to miss the cushiona1529 to get, have, or take the (or a) wrong (or right) sow by the ear1546 to pray without one's beads1641 to have the wrong end of the stick?1793 to bark up the wrong tree1832 the boot (is) on the wrong leg or foot1834 to have another think coming1896 you have another guess coming1935 to be off the beam1941 blow1943 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > lack of truth, falsity > an error, mistake > make a mess of [verb (transitive)] blow1943 to make a hames of1947 to cock up1948 goof1960 to fuck up1967 1943 W. R. Burnett Nobody lives Forever i. x. 60 He'll probably blow it. He's beginning to look old. 1950 H. E. Goldin Dict. Amer. Underworld Lingo 30/1 Blow, v... 3. To lose; to bungle. ‘Don't blow that piece (revolver); it cost me a double sawbuck (twenty dollars).’ 1967 Boston Herald 1 Apr. 16/4 There wasn't anyone in the Boston contingent who could recall him ever blowing three layups in a game before. 1971 It 9 Sept. 19/1 This could have been a wonderful record but they blew it. 1977 Tennis World Sept. 17/1 If a player is nervous he ‘muffs’, ‘flubs’ or ‘blows’ his shots. 1983 Times 22 Jan. 1/2 Let's go in June, and win, rather than blow it in March, 1984. 10. to blow off: (transitive) to allow (steam or the like) to escape forcibly with a blowing noise; also figurative to get rid of (superfluous energy, emotion, etc.) in a noisy way; intransitive (for reflexive) of steam, gas, etc.: to escape forcibly. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > manifestation of emotion > manifest or exhibit (emotions) [verb (transitive)] > expel emotion in noisy or vigorous manner exhale1745 to blow off1836 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > go or come out [verb (intransitive)] > of something confined > forcibly (of steam or gas) to blow off1836 the world > food and drink > drink > providing or serving drink > [verb (transitive)] > treat to drinks to blow off1884 1836 F. Marryat Snarleyyow xi, in Metropolitan May 10 The widow..sat..fuming and blowing off her steam. 1865 W. S. Jevons Coal Quest. (ed. 2) 65 Carburetted gas..is liable to blow off and endanger the lives of hundreds of persons. 1884 Christian Commonw. 24 Jan. 348/1 Blowing off their superfluous energy in singing and shouting. †11. To utter: also with out. Most frequently in a bad sense: To utter boastfully, angrily, etc. to blow into one's ear: to whisper privily. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > pride > boasting or boastfulness > utter boastfully [verb (transitive)] avauntc1374 blowc1380 brag1627 vaunt1633 vapour1658 to blow one's own trumpet1854 woof1934 society > communication > information > action of informing > information [phrase] > whisper (something) privily to blow into one's ear1652 c1380 J. Wyclif Three Treat. i. 69 Censuris þat þe fend bloweþ (as ben suspendis and interdicyngis). c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 5421 Þan wax þe Amyral glad..& gan to blowe bost. c1440 W. Hylton Scala Perfeccionis (1494) ii. xlii Blowynge psalmes & louynges to Jhesu. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) iv. 122 The gret bost that it [sc. pryde] blawis. c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) vi. 30 That samyn sound as thay beystis hed blauen. 1564 T. Becon New Catech. in Catech. & Other Pieces (1844) 344 He blowed out many furious and unseemly words. 1642 T. Taylor God's Judgem. i. i. xii. 35 Threats were blowne out on every side against the Faithful. 1652 C. Cotterell tr. G. de Costes de La Calprenède Cassandra (1676) iv. 61 These things which malitious Roxana blew into Statira's ears. ******** transitive To drive or transport by blowing. 12. a. transitive. To drive or carry (things) by means of a current of air; also figurative. Const. simply, or with prepositions or adverbs of direction, as away, down, from, off, to, etc. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > impelling or driving > impel or drive [verb (transitive)] > by blowing or puffing puff?c1225 blowa1300 whiffle1641 whuffle1906 a1300 Cursor Mundi 22922 Þof his bodi al war brint, And blaun ouer al þe puder tint. c1300 K. Alis. 5630 The wynde you may theder blawen, In lesse than in twenty dawen. 1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Mal. i. 13 Ȝe han blowe it awey. c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 1982 [Þai] were blouen to þe brode se in a bir swithe. 1577 M. Hanmer tr. Bp. Eusebius in Aunc. Eccl. Hist. ix. iv. 175 Y^e heate of persecution was blowen against vs. 1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 v. iii. 87 Falst. What wind blew you hither Pistol? Pistol Not the ill winde which blowes no man to good. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 (1623) iii. i. 83 Looke, as I blow this Feather from my Face, And as the Ayre blowes it to me againe. View more context for this quotation 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 102 Winnow'd Chaff, by western winds is blown . View more context for this quotation 1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 269. ¶7 The Wind..blew down the end of one of his Barns. 1870 F. R. Wilson Archit. Surv. Churches Lindisfarne 68 The roof was blown off. b. intransitive (for reflexive). To be driven or carried by the wind; to move before the wind. Same const. Also (U.S. colloquial), to move as if carried or impelled by the wind. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > progressive motion > specific manner of progressive motion > move progressively in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > as if carried by the wind blow1842 1842 Ld. Tennyson Goose xiii, in Poems (new ed.) I. 233 Her cap blew off, her gown blew up. 1842 Ld. Tennyson Day-dream in Poems (new ed.) II. 156 The hedge broke in, the banner blew. 1844 Knickerbocker 23 51 I was half awake..when Bob came in, blew about the room for a while, and cried out. 1868 S. Hale Lett. (1919) 42 She is a picturesque looking creature... Why she blows up and down the Nile year in and year out,.. I dunno. 1903 E. C. Waltz Pa Gladden 61 The kitchen door opened and the wind-tossed farmer fairly blew in. c. to blow over (formerly in perfect to be blown over): (of storms or storm-clouds) to pass over a place without descending upon it; to pass away, come to an end; also figurative of misfortune, danger, etc. Also to blow off in same sense. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > end or extremity > come to an end [verb (intransitive)] finea1300 cease1382 fall1523 to break up1544 to blow off1633 subside1654 peter1846 1633 J. Fosbroke Englands Warning 26 in Six Serm. When the storm is blown over, they return to their old bias again. 1641 ‘Smectymnuus’ Vindic. Answer Hvmble Remonstr. §13. 131 This cloud will soone blow over. 1692 R. South 12 Serm. I. 636 Do they think that..this dreadfull Sentence [shall] blow off without Execution? 1794 G. Morris in J. Sparks Life G. Morris (1832) II. 399 The affair is blown over. 1849 A. Alison Hist. Europe from French Revol. (new ed.) VIII. liv. 479 The danger had blown over. d. to blow in: to appear or turn up unexpectedly; to drop in. colloquial (originally U.S.). ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming in > go or come in [verb (intransitive)] > come in unexpectedly to drop in1609 to look ina1616 to blow in1895 pop1977 1895 F. Remington Pony Tracks 104 We were all very busy when William ‘blew in’ with a great sputtering. 1904 G. H. Lorimer Old Gorgon Graham 47 Yesterday our old college friend, Clarence, blew in from Monte Carlo. 1910 W. M. Raine Bucky O'Connor 97 Him and York Neil..blew in last night from their mine. 1911 H. Quick Yellowstone Nights ix. 241 A witness..from outside the jurisdiction had blowed in. 1913 R. Brooke Let. 6 Sept. (1968) 505 I ‘blew in’ here yesterday, & found about nine letters from you. 1924 J. Galsworthy White Monkey ii. iii If anything blows in, I'll remember you. 1940 War Illustr. 16 Feb. ii/3 He just blew in out of the black-out and asked if he might use the telephone. e. To go away, to leave hurriedly. slang (originally U.S.). ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go away suddenly or hastily fleec825 runOE swervea1225 biwevec1275 skip1338 streekc1380 warpa1400 yerna1400 smoltc1400 stepc1460 to flee (one's) touch?1515 skirr1548 rubc1550 to make awaya1566 lope1575 scuddle1577 scoura1592 to take the start1600 to walk off1604 to break awaya1616 to make off1652 to fly off1667 scuttle1681 whew1684 scamper1687 whistle off1689 brush1699 to buy a brush1699 to take (its, etc.) wing1704 decamp1751 to take (a) French leave1751 morris1765 to rush off1794 to hop the twig1797 to run along1803 scoot1805 to take off1815 speela1818 to cut (also make, take) one's lucky1821 to make (take) tracks (for)1824 absquatulize1829 mosey1829 absquatulate1830 put1834 streak1834 vamoose1834 to put out1835 cut1836 stump it1841 scratch1843 scarper1846 to vamoose the ranch1847 hook1851 shoo1851 slide1859 to cut and run1861 get1861 skedaddle1862 bolt1864 cheese it1866 to do a bunkc1870 to wake snakes1872 bunk1877 nit1882 to pull one's freight1884 fooster1892 to get the (also to) hell out (of)1892 smoke1893 mooch1899 to fly the coop1901 skyhoot1901 shemozzle1902 to light a shuck1905 to beat it1906 pooter1907 to take a run-out powder1909 blow1912 to buzz off1914 to hop it1914 skate1915 beetle1919 scram1928 amscray1931 boogie1940 skidoo1949 bug1950 do a flit1952 to do a scarper1958 to hit, split or take the breeze1959 to do a runner1980 to be (also get, go) ghost1986 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away from [verb (transitive)] > go away from suddenly or hurriedly fleeOE to give the bag to1582 fling1588 vamoose1847 jump1875 skip1884 to leave (a person) flat1902 blow1912 scarper1937 society > travel > aspects of travel > departure, leaving, or going away > depart, leave, or go away [verb (intransitive)] > hastily or suddenly fleec825 warpa1400 wringc1400 bolt1575 decamp1751 mog1770 to hop the twig1797 to take (its, etc.) wing1806 to make (take) tracks (for)1824 vamoose1834 fade1848 skedaddle1862 to beat it1906 blow1912 to hop it1914 beetle1919 bug1950 jet1951 1902 B. Burgundy's Lett. 50 Then we had another and blew the joint.] 1912 G. Ade Knocking Neighbors 93 She..tied up the Geranium and took the unfinished Tatting and Blew. 1936 ‘J. Curtis’ Gilt Kid 130 Sorry and all that, but I'm afraid I must blow now. 1937 E. Linklater Juan in China xxv. 315 ‘And what's happened to Rocco?’..‘He's blown. He's gone up north.’ 1961 J. I. M. Stewart Man who won Pools iii. 38 All I want is that all these people should blow. f. To depart (esp. suddenly) from; to vacate or quit. U.S. slang. ΘΚΠ society > travel > aspects of travel > departure, leaving, or going away > depart from or leave [verb (transitive)] leaveeOE beleavea1250 devoidc1325 voidc1330 to pass out ofa1398 roomc1400 departa1425 avoid1447 ishc1450 part1496 quita1568 shrink1594 shifta1642 to turn out of ——1656 refraina1723 blow1902 1902 [see sense 12e]. 1926 Flynn's 16 Jan. 640/1 Knock-'em Loose, the Bull, was on the razee an' I got trun out, so I blew de joint. 1949 in H. Wentworth & S. B. Flexner Dict. Amer. Slang (1960) 45/2 Alive, you're ready to blow town. 1971 ‘R. Macdonald’ Underground Man iv. 28 I'm blowing this town tonight and taking the money with me. 1984 J. Davis Garfield: Who's Talking? 75 ‘Let's blow this joint, Garfield.’ ‘Hang on!’ 13. a. transitive (figurative) To proclaim, publish, blaze, spread abroad, about, (out obsolete), etc. ΘΚΠ society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > publish or spread abroad [verb (transitive)] sowc888 blowc1275 dispeple1297 to do abroadc1300 fame1303 publyc1350 defamea1382 publisha1382 open?1387 proclaima1393 slandera1400 spreada1400 abroachc1400 throwc1400 to give outa1425 promote?a1425 noisec1425 publicc1430 noisec1440 divulgea1464 to put outc1475 skail1487 to come out witha1500 bruit1525 bruita1529 to bear out1530 divulgate1530 promulgate1530 propale?1530 ventilate1530 provulgate1535 sparple1536 sparse1536 promulge1539 disperse1548 publicate1548 forthtell1549 hurly-burly?1550 propagate1554 to set abroada1555 utter1561 to set forth1567 blaze1570 evulgate1570 scatter1576 rear?1577 to carry about1585 pervulgate1586 celebrate?1596 propalate1598 vent1602 evulge1611 to give forth1611 impublic1628 ventilate1637 disseminate1643 expose1644 emit1650 to put about1664 to send abroad1681 to get abroad1688 to take out1697 advertise1710 forward1713 to set abouta1715 circulate1780 broadcast1829 vent1832 vulgate1851 debit1879 float1883 c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 13487 Þæ king of Peytouwe har mon iblowen [c1300 Otho iblowe]. c1384 G. Chaucer Hous of Fame 1139 And her fames wide yblowe. 1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (ad fin.) Direction 129 Thy fame is blaw, thy prowes and renoun Dyvulgat ar. 1541 Act 33 Hen. VIII xxi They shal not openly blow it abrode. 1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 429 These news..being blowne out of the campe into the citie. 1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe III. iv. 99 So soon as Richard's return is blown abroad. 1859 Ld. Tennyson Guinevere in Idylls of King 233 A rumour wildly blown about. b. To proclaim or praise boastfully. ΚΠ 1878 J. H. Beadle Western Wilds viii. 126 This [State] the most loudly blowed and persistently advertised of the whole sisterhood, has been knocking for admission into the Union since 1849. 1878 J. H. Beadle Western Wilds xiii. 194 In Kansas or Nebraska we should see..one or two live journals blowing the place as the ‘future metropolis of the boundless West’. II. To act upon an object, by blowing air into, upon, or at it. * To blow a musical instrument. 14. a. transitive. To make (a wind-instrument) sound. (Formerly also with up, out.) to blow one's own trumpet: (figurative) to sound one's own praises, to brag. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > work with metal [verb (transitive)] > found or cast (object) blowc1000 yetOE cast1496 found1562 run1690 pour1873 society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > playing instruments > playing wind instrument > play wind instrument [verb (transitive)] blowc1000 blazec1384 blast1530 toot1614 breathe1718 tootle1890 c1000 West Saxon Gospells: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) vi. 2 Ne blawe man byman beforan þe. c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 115 Þe bemene drem þe þe engles blewen. c1450 (c1380) G. Chaucer House of Fame (Fairf. 16) (1878) l. 775 Whan a pipe is blowen sharpe The aire ys twyst with violence. c1450 J. Lydgate Merita Missæ 171 Pryd gothe beforen And schame comythe aftyr, and blawythe horne. 1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos xlvi. 139 They..blew vp their trompettes for to gyue a sharpe sawte. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Macc. iii. 54 They blewe out the trompettes. 1611 Bible (King James) Psalms lxxxi. 3 Blow vp the trumpet in the new Moone. View more context for this quotation 1611 Bible (King James) Hosea v. 8 Blow yee the cornet in Gibeah. View more context for this quotation 1832 Ld. Tennyson Palace of Art ix, in Poems (new ed.) 71 The belted hunter blew His wreathèd buglehorn. b. To sound (a note or blast) on or with an instrument. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > playing instruments > playing wind instrument > play wind instrument [verb (transitive)] > play (note on) blowc1400 sound1806 screed1821 c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1141 Blwe bygly in bugleȝ þre bare moteȝ. 1486 Bk. St. Albans E v b Iij. motis shall ye blaw booth lowde and shill. c1600 Rob. Hood (Ritson) ii. ix. 60 Let me have my beugle horn, And blow but blasts three. 1793 R. Burns in G. Thomson Sel. Coll. Orig. Sc. Airs I. i. 22 When wild War's deadly blast was blawn. 1843 C. Fox Jrnls. II. 12 Though he has blown so loud a blast. c. To sound the signal of (an alarm, advance, retreat, etc.) on an instrument. ΘΚΠ society > communication > indication > signalling > audible signalling > signalling with other sounding instruments > sound signal on instrument [verb (transitive)] blowc1330 c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 518 Þe tokening when þai blewe. c1420 Anturs of Arthure v. 10 The king blue a rechase. 1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Blowe the Retreate in battayle. 1561 J. Daus tr. H. Bullinger Hundred Serm. vpon Apocalips Pref. sig. A.vii The Deuil..bloweth the one. 1621 R. Montagu Diatribæ Hist. Tithes 398 Wee must goe blow the Seeke, and cast about againe. 1634 Malory's Arthur (1816) I. 112 Then king Arthur blew the prize, and dight the hart there. a1641 R. Montagu Acts & Monuments (1642) 385 He tels they were Grecians born..where, when, upon what termes, you must, if you will, goe blow the seek. 1805 R. Southey Madoc ii. xviii. 362 Ye have blown The fall too soon. d. Predicated of the instrument. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > sound of instruments > sound (notes, etc.) [verb (transitive)] > wind instrument blowa1616 a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) v. iii. 43 Let the generall Trumpet blow his blast. View more context for this quotation 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 540 Sonorous mettal blowing Martial sounds. View more context for this quotation 1758 J. Beattie Ode to Peace ii. iii, in Scots Mag. Sept. 482/2 The fierce alarms Her trump terrific blows. e. To play jazz on (any instrument). Also intransitive. colloquial (originally U.S.). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > perform music [verb (intransitive)] > perform specific type of music serenade1671 prelude1680 fugue1783 pastoralize1828 preludize1829 symphonize1833 ran-tan1866 counterpoint1875 rag1896 ragtime1908 jazz1916 rock1931 jivec1938 bop1947 blow1949 rock-and-roll1956 skiffle1957 hip-hop1983 society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > perform (music) [verb (transitive)] > perform specific types of music jig1598 serenade1672 prelude1795 shivaree1805 dirge1826 ran-tan1866 overture1870 threnody1893 ragtime1908 rag1914 blow1949 1949 L. Feather Inside Be-bop ii. 72 Nobody ever gave Diz or Bird a lesson in the art of blowing a jazz chorus. 1962 John o' London's 3 May 433/1 A blowin' session is a general term used to describe that form of jazz where men get together for the pleasure of making free and spontaneous music. 1962 Radio Times 17 May 43/3 A jazz musician never plays an instrument—he blows it, whether it be drums, piano, bass, or horn. Should he ‘blow’ with feeling, or great excitement (‘like wild’) he is either ‘way out’ or ‘wailing’. 1966 Crescendo Sept. 27/1 The not-so-advanced suffered from insufficient outlet, and opportunity to blow and to improve. 1966 Melody Maker 15 Oct. 6 Dave Gelly is a school librarian who also blows jazz tenor with the New Jazz Orchestra. 1968 Jazz Monthly Apr. 23/2 His style was hard to fit into the standards of hard bop blowing sessions. 15. intransitive. a. Of a wind-instrument: To give forth a sound by being blown. Also with up (obsolete). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > sound of instruments > sound [verb (intransitive)] > wind instruments blow?c1225 bray1340 toot1516 blustera1590 ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 157 Þe engles bemen. þe schulen..biforen þe grimfule dom grisliche blawen. a1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 4677 Þe beme þat blaw sal on domsday. a1500 (?c1400) Sir Triamour (Cambr.) (1937) l. 1092 The kyng..herde a bewgull blowe! 1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 181 All the trumpettis blawand vp in tune. 1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida i. iii. 253 Trumpet blowe alowd, Send thy brasse voyce through all these lazie tents. 1647 R. Fanshawe tr. B. Guarini Pastor Fido (1676) 52 But list a little, doth not a Horn blow? 1875 O. W. Holmes Old Cambr. in Poems (1884) 306 Our trumpets needs must blow. b. Of the blower: To sound a blast. to blow up: to sound a whistle (as a signal). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > playing instruments > playing wind instrument > play wind instrument [verb (intransitive)] blowc1275 blast1384 toot1549 wind1600 tootle1842 tootle-too1857 society > communication > indication > signalling > audible signalling > signalling with other sounding instruments > sound signal on instrument [verb (intransitive)] > sound whistle as signal whistlec1000 pipe1707 to blow up1889 c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 4016 Þe king lette blawen [c1300 Otho blowen] & bonnien his ferden. 1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) iii. 484 Quhen he hard sa blaw & cry. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. 410 At the houre of ix. theyr mynstrels blewe vp on highe. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 459/1 He bloweth in a trompet. c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 1308 Þe kyng..henttes his horne and hastily blawes. 1602 Returne fr. Parnassus (Arb.) ii. v. 29 There is an excellent skill in blowing for the terriers. 1611 Bible (King James) Judges vii. 18 I blow with a trumpet. View more context for this quotation a1882 H. W. Longfellow Michael Angelo Blow, ye bright angels, on your golden trumpets. 1889 A. Barrère & C. G. Leland Dict. Slang I. 135/2 To blow up (i.e., to sound the whistle), is to call the men to work; used by foremen and ga[n]gers. 1954 J. B. G. Thomas On Tour vi. 65 The referee blew up to see who was actually lying on the ball. c. Of the blast or note: To sound. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > sound of instruments > sound [verb (intransitive)] > wind instruments > note on blowa1616 a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) iii. i. 5 When the blast of Warre blowes in our eares. View more context for this quotation 1852 Ld. Tennyson Ode Wellington iii Let the mournful martial music blow. ** To blow a fire, and the like. 16. transitive. To direct a current of air against (anything) so as to cool, warm, or dry it. Sometimes with words expressing the effect of the action as complement, as to blow(something) dry. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > gas > air > moving air > set (air) in motion [verb (transitive)] > direct current of air at blowa1398 wind1605 a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xv. cxxxviii. 805 Stones ben ydiggede þat ben strongeliche yblowe wiþ fuyre and turneþ to brasse and metalle. 1566 T. Drant tr. Horace Medicinable Morall sig. Eiij All the reaste mighte blow their nayles. 1593 W. Shakespeare Venus & Adonis sig. Bij To fan, and blow them drie againe she seekes. View more context for this quotation a1658 J. Cleveland News from Newcastle (new ed.) in Wks. (1687) 290 And in embroidered Buck-skins blows his Nails. 1841 F. Marryat Joseph Rushbrook II. iii. 61 The winter was cold..and he blew his fingers. 1850 Ld. Tennyson In Memoriam lxx. 98 Blasts that blow the poplar white. View more context for this quotation 17. a. esp. To direct a current of air into (a fire), in order to make it burn more brightly. Also with up. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > burn or consume by fire [verb (transitive)] > make a fire > direct current of air into fire blowa1300 puffc1475 bellows1605 wind1605 ventilate1613 fan1887 a1300 Havelok 913 Y wile..The fir blowe, an ful wele maken. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 458/2 Where be the bellowes, I praye the, blowe the fyre. 1611 Bible (King James) Isa. liv. 16 The smith that bloweth the coales in the fire. View more context for this quotation 1631 W. Gouge Gods Three Arrowes iv. xiii. 391 Yet were..the sparkes of that fire so blowne up, as dazled the eyes. 1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. i. 8 The Phrase Smiths use..is Blow up the Fire, or sometimes, Blow up the Coals. 1781 W. Hayley Triumphs of Temper i. 374 Chemic fires, that patient labour blows. 1830 J. W. Warter tr. Aristophanes Acharnians 29 The sparks, blowed with a favourable puff of the bellows, leap aloft. b. figurative. to blow the fire: to stir up or promote strife; to fan the flame of discord. Cf. to blow the coals at coal n. Phrases 3a. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > dissent > be in dissension or at variance [verb (intransitive)] > cause dissension to make strife1303 to make the feathers flyc1430 to stir the coals1539 to make mischiefc1572 to blow the bellows1590 to blow the fire1670 to stir the pot1826 to stir (also rouse) the possum1900 to mix it1950 1670 C. Cotton tr. G. Girard Hist. Life Duke of Espernon ii. vii. 309 The Chancellor..had also help'd to blow the fire. c. to blow out: (a) transitive to extinguish (a flame) by a current of air; (b) intransitive to be extinguished by a current of air; (figurative) to expire, die. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > extinguish (fire) [verb (transitive)] > by current of air to blow out1377 the world > matter > light > darkness or absence of light > make dark [verb (transitive)] > quench (light) > in specific way flapc1540 puff1547 purge1573 to blow out1617 spit1681 shoot1972 the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > become extinguished [verb (intransitive)] quench?c1225 aquencha1250 to wax outc1400 slockc1485 slocken1535 to burn out, forth1597 extinguish1599 squench1643 to blow out1842 1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xvii. 212 As þow seest some tyme sodeynliche a torche, The blase þere-of yblowe out. a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) ii. i. 135 Though little fire growes great with little winde, yet extreme gusts will blow out fire. View more context for this quotation 1617 P. Baynes in C. H. Spurgeon Treasury of David (1882) VI. Ps. cxix. 29 As candles new bloun out are soon bloun in again. 1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. vi. iv. sig. Nn5^v A Candle..inclosed in a Lanthorn..'tis in less danger to be blown out. 1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby viii. 65 Squeers..opened the shutters and blew the candle out. 1842 Ld. Tennyson Goose xiii, in Poems (new ed.) I. 233 The glass blew in, the fire blew out. 1845 W. G. Simms Wigwam & Cabin 1st Ser. 58 I reckon I was clean gone, if it hadn't been that she blowed out before me. †18. figurative. To excite, inflame, arouse, fan (feeling, passion, discord, etc.; rarely, a person to some feeling or action). Usually with up. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > passion > ardour or fervour > ardent or fervent [verb (transitive)] > heighten intensity of passion blow?c1225 ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 188 Ȝef þe feont bitwenen ow toblaweð ei wreððe. 1654 G. Goddard in T. Burton Diary (1828) (modernized text) I. Introd. p. xciii These two interests..being constantly blown up by the enemies beyond the seas. 1677 A. Yarranton England's Improvem. To Rdr. They..blow up a War betwixt England and Holland. 1720 J. Ozell et al. tr. R. A. de Vertot Hist. Revol. Rom. Republic I. ii. 118 Finding the People were blown up again to their former Animosity. 1776 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall I. vi. 127 Some trifling accident blew up their discontent into a furious mutiny. 19. a. In Metallurgy. to blow in: (transitive) to put a blast furnace in operation. to blow out: to put a blast furnace out of blast, by ceasing to charge it with fresh materials, and by continuing the blast, until all the contents have been smelted. Also said intransitively of the furnace. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > industry > working with tools or equipment > work with tools or equipment [verb (transitive)] > furnace or kiln > put into operation to blow in1864 society > occupation and work > industry > working with tools or equipment > work with tools or equipment [verb (transitive)] > furnace or kiln > stop stoking or cause to stop burning to blow out1864 to fire off1884 society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > explosive material > actions of explosive material [verb (intransitive)] > go off without shattering rock to blow out1864 1864 Daily Tel. 26 Oct. It was a question..of allowing half the furnaces in the district to blow out. 1881 Sat. Rev. 1 May 565 127 new furnaces have now been blown in. 1885 Law Times 79 188/2 A few workmen only were kept on until the furnaces could be blown out. b. to blow on: (transitive) to solder on by means of the blow-lamp. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > work with metal [verb (transitive)] > solder > with specific technique or material braze1678 plumba1722 soft-solder1769 spelter1861 tin1873 silver-solder1889 to blow on1893 1893 Spons' Mechanics' Own Bk. (ed. 4) 641 Lead the pipe away to the main supply, and ‘blow’ it on by means of a union suited to the case. c. intransitive. Of a fuse: to melt under an abnormally high electric current; to fuse. Also with out. Also transitive, to cause (a fuse) to melt. Hence figurative (colloquial). ΘΚΠ the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > circuit > fuse > [verb (intransitive)] fuse1887 blow1902 the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > fail or be unsuccessful [verb (intransitive)] > melt or burn out blow1925 the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > circuit > fuse > furnish with fuse [verb (transitive)] > cause failure to burn out1924 blow1949 fuse1951 1902 in Webster's Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. Suppl. 1908 Installation News 2 86/1 A fuse has blown owing to a fault on the circuit. 1925 P. G. Wodehouse Carry on, Jeeves viii. 188 However firmly and confidently he started off, somewhere around the third bar a fuse would blow out. 1949 S. J. Perelman Listen to Mocking Bird x. 120 Relax..or you'll blow a fuse. 1962 A. Battersby Guide to Stock Control ix. 81 If a fuse blows at home, the effect is immediate—the lights go out. 1969 Woman's Own 1 Nov. 15/1 This means plugging all three appliances into one 13 amp. socket. Are you likely to blow a fuse? †20. transitive. To cast (of molten metal). Obsolete. ΚΠ a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6503 A goldin calf þar-of þai blu. 1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 61/3 They haue made to them a Calf blowen and haue worshyped it. ******* To clear (a pipe, etc.) by blowing. 21. transitive. To clear from mucus or other adherent matter by sending a current of air through; as, to blow the nose, to blow eggs, blow gas or water pipes. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > cleaning or cleanliness of the person > clean the person [verb (transitive)] > clean the nose snitec1305 to blow the nose?1533 snot1576 ?1533 G. Du Wes Introductorie for to lerne Frenche sig. Ci ^v To blowe the nose, le mouchér. 1615 T. Overbury et al. New & Choise Characters with Wife (6th impr.) sig. L3 Hee hath learn't to cough, and spit, and blow his nose. 1795 ‘P. Pindar’ Pindariana 201 He blows..his mean pug-nose. 1828 W. Sewell Oxf. Prize Ess. 80 Socrates..had done what he rarely did, washed, put on a pair of shoes, and blown his nose. 1880 Wood in Boy's Own Paper 24 Apr. Do not worry yourself about blowing the eggs at the time. 1887 N.E.D. at Blow Mod. The plumber will try whether the obstruction can be removed by blowing the pipe. ******** To inflate by blowing. 22. a. transitive. To swell (up or out) by sending a current of air into; to inflate, puff up. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > gas > air > [verb (transitive)] > inflate abloweOE blowc1425 inflate1528 huff1601 sufflate1616 puff1679 plima1691 balloon1906 c1425 Seven Sag. (P.) 1523 Hys body was al to-blaw. a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sloane) (1862) 26 Þe skyn þou opon..blaw hym with penne; Þenne ryses þo skyn before. c1550 J. Balfour Practicks 379 Challenge of Fleshouris..That they blaw the flesh, and cause it seme fat and fair. 1674 J. Ray N. Countrey Words in Coll. Eng. Words 48 Tharm..guts prepared, cleansed, and blown up for to receive puddings. 1770 A. Young Six Months Tour N. Eng. I. 65 Boys blowing bladders. 1871 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues II. 33 Because a man has blown himself out like a bladder. b. To form or shape by means of inflation, as to blow bubbles, blow glass. Const. simply, or up, out. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > gas > air > moving air > set (air) in motion [verb (transitive)] > form (bubbles) by blowing blow1589 society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with glass > work with glass [verb (transitive)] > specific processes blow1589 grind1651 centre1688 muff1877 muffle1908 1589 J. Lyly Pappe with Hatchet D iiij Not like to glasse mettal, to be blowne in..fashion of euerie mans breath. 1660 R. Boyle New Exper. Physico-mechanicall ii. 40 Glass bubles, such as are wont to be blown at the flame of a Lamp. 1869 J. Tyndall Notes on Light (1873) ii. 66 Spending his days in blowing soap-bubbles. 1875 R. Hunt & F. W. Rudler Ure's Dict. Arts (ed. 7) II. 659 The bulb of glass being put into the mould, and blown while very hot. c. Veterinary Medicine. To cause (the stomach of an animal) to swell. (Cf. blowing n.¹ 2d.) Also reflexive. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > animal disease or disorder > disorders of cattle > of cattle: become diseased [verb (transitive)] > swell stomach blow1776 1776 W. Marshall Minutes Agric. 16 Jan. (1778) Perhaps it was the core of a cabbage which blowed the cow. 1893 G. E. Dartnell & E. H. Goddard Gloss. Words Wilts. 14 Sheep and cattle ‘blow’ themselves, or get ‘blowed’, from overeating when turned out into very heavy grass or clover, the fermentation of which often kills them on the spot, their bodies becoming terribly inflated with wind. 23. †a. figurative. To inflate or puff up (a person) with pride or vanity. Also absol. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > pride > swelling or inflation with pride > inflate with pride [verb (transitive)] swellc1200 bolnea1340 inblowc1384 blow1388 embolne1430 puff1526 inflate1530 puft1563 tympanize1593 overleaven1604 bladder1610 hufflea1652 bloat1677 1388 Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) 1 Cor. iv. 19 The word of hem that ben blowun with pride. 1388 Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) 1 Cor. viii. 1 Kunnynge blowith, charite edifieth. c1430 Hymns Virg. (1867) 115 Charite..Ne blowen is with pride. 1586 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. I. 156 Crœsus..he perceiued to be blowne and puft vp with pride. 1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxv. 135 When they blow one another with Orations. a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 454 Blown up with popularity. 1718 Mem. Life J. Kettlewell iii. §110. 462 Never Capable of Blowing up his Mind with the least Vanity. †b. figurative. To inflate, enlarge, magnify; to make (a thing) appear greater or grander than it really is. Also, To invent a report of. Usually with up. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > exaggeration, hyperbole > exaggerate [verb (transitive)] flatter?c1225 engregec1386 enhancec1400 extol?1504 extend1509 aggravate1533 exagger1535 blowa1538 amplify1561 exasperate1561 bombast1566 aggerate1570 enlarge1592 rengrege1601 exaggerate1604 magnify1605 hyperbolize1609 to slobber over ——1761 bloat1896 over-heighten1904 overpitch1904 overblow1961 inflate1982 a1538 T. Starkey Let. in Eng. in Reign Henry VIII (1878) i. p. xxxvii Blowyng vp that authoryte wyth such arrogancy. 1666 S. Pepys Diary 2 Jan. (1974) VIII. 2 That we at Court do blow up a design of invading us. 1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) Pref. p. vi I had no apprehension..that the Business could have been blown to this Hight. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 39. ¶6 A Vulgar [sentiment] that is blown up with all the Sound and Energy of Expression. c. In Photography, to blow up: to enlarge (a photograph, etc.). colloquial. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > photographic processes > [verb (transitive)] > enlarge enlarge1866 to blow up1930 1930 Pop. Sci. Monthly Jan. 27/3 The little sixteen-millimeter film of such cameras is too small for projection..and when it is ‘blown up’ to standard size, the images often blur. 1959 Punch 21 Oct. 337/3 I blew up the two faces on an epidiascope. 1961 G. Millerson Technique Television Production iii. 29 Reducing the lens angle ‘blows up’ a proportionately smaller area of the centre of the shot, to fill the whole screen. ***** To explode by blowing. 24. a. transitive. To shatter, destroy, or otherwise act upon by means of explosion. Const. with various adverbs of direction, esp. up; also with such phrases as to atoms and to bits; in technical use often simply to blow, like ‘to blast’. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > make (more) violent [verb (transitive)] > act upon by means of explosion blow1599 the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > breaking or cracking > break [verb (transitive)] > break to pieces, shatter, or burst > blow up or explode to blow away1523 blow1599 to blow (shiver, smash, tear, etc.) to or into atoms1612 blast1758 to blow sky-high1823 dynamite1881 lyddite1906 the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > bring to ruin or put an end to undoc950 shendOE forfarea1000 endc1000 to do awayOE aquenchc1175 slayc1175 slayc1175 stathea1200 tinea1300 to-spilla1300 batec1300 bleschea1325 honisha1325 leesea1325 wastec1325 stanch1338 corrumpa1340 destroy1340 to put awayc1350 dissolvec1374 supplanta1382 to-shend1382 aneantizec1384 avoidc1384 to put outa1398 beshenda1400 swelta1400 amortizec1405 distract1413 consumec1425 shelfc1425 abroge1427 downthringc1430 kill1435 poisonc1450 defeat1474 perish1509 to blow away1523 abrogatea1529 to prick (also turn, pitch) over the perka1529 dash?1529 to bring (also send) to (the) pot1531 put in the pot1531 wipea1538 extermine1539 fatec1540 peppera1550 disappoint1563 to put (also set) beside the saddle1563 to cut the throat of1565 to throw (also turn, etc.) over the perch1568 to make a hand of (also on, with)1569 demolish1570 to break the neck of1576 to make shipwreck of1577 spoil1578 to knock on (in) the head (also rarely at head)1579 cipher1589 ruinate1590 to cut off by the shins1592 shipwreck1599 exterminate1605 finish1611 damnify1612 ravel1614 braina1616 stagger1629 unrivet1630 consummate1634 pulverizea1640 baffle1649 devil1652 to blow up1660 feague1668 shatter1683 cook1708 to die away1748 to prove fatal (to)1759 to knock up1764 to knock (or kick) the hindsight out or off1834 to put the kibosh on1834 to cook (rarely do) one's goose1835 kibosh1841 to chaw up1843 cooper1851 to jack up1870 scuttle1888 to bugger up1891 jigger1895 torpedo1895 on the fritz1900 to put paid to1901 rot1908 down and out1916 scuppera1918 to put the skids under1918 stonker1919 liquidate1924 to screw up1933 cruel1934 to dig the grave of1934 pox1935 blow1936 to hit for six1937 to piss up1937 to dust off1938 zap1976 1599 E. Sandys Europæ Speculum (1632) 76 They may..blow uppe the mines of their adversaries. 1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. iv. 185 + 8 I will delue one yard belowe their mines, And blowe them at the Moone. 1605 Act 3 Jas. I c. 4 That more than barbarous and horrible attempt to have blowuen up with Gunpowder the Kinge Queene Prince Lordes and Commons. 1679–88 in J. Y. Akerman Moneys Secret Services Charles II & James II (1851) 50 To Thomas Silver, Gunner, for a reward..in blowing up several buildings, and suppressing the late fire. 1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 80. ⁋9 One of our Bombs fell into a Magazine..and blew it up. 1799 J. Robertson Gen. View Agric. Perth 366 The small expence of blowing a few yards of rock. 1801 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1837) I. 361 After blowing open the gates. 1802 Monthly Mag. 14 31/1 [Robert Fulton] proposes to blow men of war to atoms. c1880 J. Grant Hist. India I. lxxv. 399/1 The breaching guns..were blown in the touch-hole. 1936 Discovery July 229/1 The old..story that Fulton was the father of the steamboat, blown to bits in favour of the cruelly forgotten John Fitch. b. to blow any one's brains out: to shoot him through the head (with firearms). Cf. brain n. Phrases 1. ΚΠ 1816 W. Scott Old Mortality i, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. III. 4 If they attempt an escape, blow their brains out. c. to blow from (the mouth of) a gun, etc.: to execute summary justice on (a traitor, etc.) by binding him to the muzzle of a gun and firing the piece. ΘΚΠ society > authority > punishment > capital punishment > execute [verb (transitive)] > shoot shootc1275 to blow from (the mouth of) a gun1857 1776 Monthly Rev. 55 276 I ordered..the artillery officers to prepare to blow them away.] 1857 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Sept. 389/1 That if there be 10,000 who refuse to use them, they are to be blown away from cannon. 1885 Cent. Mag. Jan. 411/2 That Black Idol..Was..Blown hellward from the cannon's mouth. 1893 W. S. Gilbert Rosencrantz & Guildenstern 11 The Bench of Bishops seize you..And blow you from a gun. d. Shooting. To shatter (a game bird) in shooting; more explicitly to blow to pieces. So (U.S. slang) to blow apart. ΘΚΠ the world > life > death > killing > killing by specific method > kill [verb (transitive)] > by shooting shootc893 shootc1275 to blow away1523 carry1653 to shoot (a person) down1845 stop1845 blow1871 ventilate1875 Maxim1894 poop1917 to blow apart1920 smoke1926 clip1927 cowboy1941 zap1942 Sten-gun1949 to light up1967 slot1987 1892 W. W. Greener Breech-loader 275 I defy any one, after a day's shooting, to point out a single bird that has been ‘blown’. My experience has proved beyond doubt that the choke-bore does not blow pheasants or any other game to pieces at 20 yards. 1920 C. E. Mulford Johnny Nelson iv. 45 ‘Squint,’ said his captor in a hard, level voice, ‘if you give me th' least excuse I'll blow you apart.’ e. To remove by the force of an explosion; with adverbs away, back, off. ΚΠ 1899 Westm. Gaz. 13 July 7/2 Cartridges in which the caps have been blown back when the rifle was discharged. f. to blow the lid off (figurative): to expose (a state of affairs). Originally U.S. ΘΚΠ society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or reveal [verb (transitive)] unwryc825 unhelec1000 to draw forthc1175 unhillc1200 to bring forth?c1225 unsteekc1250 let witc1275 uncovera1300 wraya1300 knowc1300 barea1325 shrivec1374 unwrapc1374 again-covera1382 nakena1382 outc1390 tellc1390 disclosea1393 cough1393 unhidea1400 unclosec1400 unhaspc1400 bewrayc1405 reveal1409 accusea1413 reveil1424 unlocka1425 unrekec1425 disclude?1440 uncurec1440 utter1444 detect1447 break1463 expose1483 divinec1500 revelate1514 to bring (also put) to light1526 decipher1529 rake1547 rip1549 unshadow1550 to lay to sight1563 uppen1565 unlace1567 unvisor?1571 resign1572 uncloak1574 disshroud1577 spill1577 reap1578 unrip1579 scour1585 unharboura1586 unmask1586 uncase1587 descrya1591 unclasp?1592 unrive1592 discover1594 unburden1594 untomb1594 unhusk1596 dismask1598 to open upc1600 untruss1600 divulge1602 unshale1606 unbrace1607 unveil1609 rave1610 disveil1611 unface1611 unsecret1612 unvizard1620 to open up1624 uncurtain1628 unscreen1628 unbare1630 disenvelop1632 unclothe1632 to lay forth1633 unshroud1633 unmuffle1637 midwife1638 dissecret1640 unseal1640 unmantle1643 to fetch out1644 undisguise1655 disvelop1658 decorticate1660 clash1667 exert1692 disinter1711 to up with1715 unbundlea1739 develop1741 disembosom1745 to open out1814 to let out1833 unsack1846 uncrown1849 to bring (out) in (also into) the open1861 unfrock1866 disbosom1868 to blow the lid off1928 flush1950 surface1955 to take or pull the wraps off1964 1928 Daily Tel. 1 May 9/5 He ‘blew the lid’ off a notorious national condition of affairs. g. to blow out: (of a cock, valve, etc.) to be driven out by the expansive force of gas or vapour. ΚΠ 1909 in Webster's New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. h. To produce by blowing or shooting. ΘΚΠ the world > life > death > killing > killing by specific method > kill [verb (transitive)] > by shooting shootc893 shootc1275 to blow away1523 carry1653 to shoot (a person) down1845 stop1845 blow1871 ventilate1875 Maxim1894 poop1917 to blow apart1920 smoke1926 clip1927 cowboy1941 zap1942 Sten-gun1949 to light up1967 slot1987 1871 B. Harte East & West: Poems 18 Walker of Murphy's blew a hole through Peters For telling him that he lied. 1891 C. Roberts Adrift in Amer. 153 If you talk to me like that I'll blow a hole through you. i. to blow one's top (less commonly blow topper): to lose control of oneself through anger, excitement, etc. (see also quot. 1938). ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > violent emotion > be affected with violent emotion [verb (intransitive)] ragea1400 to blow one's top1928 to go haywire1929 to pop (also blow) one's cork1938 to flip one's lid (also wig)1950 wig1955 to go ballistic1981 the mind > emotion > anger > [verb (intransitive)] > become angry wrethec900 wrothc975 abelghec1300 to move one's blood (also mood)c1330 to peck moodc1330 gremec1460 to take firea1513 fumec1522 sourdc1540 spitec1560 to set up the heckle1601 fire1604 exasperate1659 to fire up1779 to flash up1822 to get one's dander up1831 to fly (occasionally jump, etc.) off (at) the handle1832 to have (also get) one's monkey up1833 to cut up rough, rusty, savage1837 rile1837 to go off the handle1839 to flare up1840 to set one's back up1845 to run hot1855 to wax up1859 to get one's rag out1862 blow1871 to get (also have) the pricker1871 to turn up rough1872 to get the needle1874 to blaze up1878 to get wet1898 spunk1898 to see red1901 to go crook1911 to get ignorant1913 to hit the ceiling1914 to hit the roof1921 to blow one's top1928 to lose one's rag1928 to lose one's haira1930 to go up in smoke1933 hackle1935 to have, get a cob on1937 to pop (also blow) one's cork1938 to go hostile1941 to go sparec1942 to do one's bun1944 to lose one's wool1944 to blow one's stack1947 to go (also do) one's (also a) dingerc1950 rear1953 to get on ignorant1956 to go through the roof1958 to keep (also blow, lose) one's cool1964 to lose ita1969 to blow a gasket1975 to throw a wobbler1985 1928 R. J. Tasker Grimhaven iii. 28 Unless you say ‘blew his top’ or ‘blow his topper’; then it means to go crazy. 1938 New Yorker 12 Mar. 47/2 If he smokes to excess, he blows his top; that is, he gets sick. 1941 Amer. Speech 16 163/2 To blow your top: vocal loss of temper. 1947 J. Steinbeck Wayward Bus 90 He blew his top and lost his job and came bellyaching to Loraine. 1958 Economist 1 Nov. 387/2 This was not just a newly retired officer blowing his top after years of enforced silence. j. to blow (a person's) mind, to induce hallucinatory experiences (in a person) by means of drugs, esp. LSD; hence transferred, to produce (in a person) a pleasurable (or shocking) sensation. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > effects of drugs > have intoxicating effect on [verb (transitive)] > induce hallucinations to blow (a person's) mind1967 the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > effect produced on emotions > have an effect on [verb (transitive)] > with irresistible force kill1634 to knock sideways1890 to blow (a person's) mind1967 the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > quality of inspiring wonder > be a matter of wonder [verb (intransitive)] > excite wonder dazzle1649 to take a person's breath (away)1700 impress1736 to make a stare1808 astonish1904 to blow (a person's) mind1967 1966 San Francisco Examiner & Chron. 12 June 33/3 The Barry Goldberg Blues Band..does an LP called ‘Blowin' My Mind’.] 1967 San Francisco Examiner 12 Sept. 26/3 On a hip acid (LSD) trip you can blow your mind sky-high. 1967 San Francisco Chron. 2 Oct. 49/3 Because when the Red Sox rallied to beat the Minneapolis Twins..Boston fans blew their minds. 1968 J. D. MacDonald Pale Grey for Guilt (1969) xii. 152 They had some new short acid from the Coast that never gives you a down trip and blows your mind for an hour only. 1970 Rolling Stone 30 Jan. 1/2 Blue blazer, grey flannel pants, shirt and a beautiful scarf with a chunky Mexican turquoise/silver bracelet and ring which blew the white-shirted jury's minds. 25. figurative. to blow up: †a. to destroy, put an end to; to ruin. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > bring to ruin or put an end to undoc950 shendOE forfarea1000 endc1000 to do awayOE aquenchc1175 slayc1175 slayc1175 stathea1200 tinea1300 to-spilla1300 batec1300 bleschea1325 honisha1325 leesea1325 wastec1325 stanch1338 corrumpa1340 destroy1340 to put awayc1350 dissolvec1374 supplanta1382 to-shend1382 aneantizec1384 avoidc1384 to put outa1398 beshenda1400 swelta1400 amortizec1405 distract1413 consumec1425 shelfc1425 abroge1427 downthringc1430 kill1435 poisonc1450 defeat1474 perish1509 to blow away1523 abrogatea1529 to prick (also turn, pitch) over the perka1529 dash?1529 to bring (also send) to (the) pot1531 put in the pot1531 wipea1538 extermine1539 fatec1540 peppera1550 disappoint1563 to put (also set) beside the saddle1563 to cut the throat of1565 to throw (also turn, etc.) over the perch1568 to make a hand of (also on, with)1569 demolish1570 to break the neck of1576 to make shipwreck of1577 spoil1578 to knock on (in) the head (also rarely at head)1579 cipher1589 ruinate1590 to cut off by the shins1592 shipwreck1599 exterminate1605 finish1611 damnify1612 ravel1614 braina1616 stagger1629 unrivet1630 consummate1634 pulverizea1640 baffle1649 devil1652 to blow up1660 feague1668 shatter1683 cook1708 to die away1748 to prove fatal (to)1759 to knock up1764 to knock (or kick) the hindsight out or off1834 to put the kibosh on1834 to cook (rarely do) one's goose1835 kibosh1841 to chaw up1843 cooper1851 to jack up1870 scuttle1888 to bugger up1891 jigger1895 torpedo1895 on the fritz1900 to put paid to1901 rot1908 down and out1916 scuppera1918 to put the skids under1918 stonker1919 liquidate1924 to screw up1933 cruel1934 to dig the grave of1934 pox1935 blow1936 to hit for six1937 to piss up1937 to dust off1938 zap1976 1660 Sir H. Finch in W. Cobbett Parl. Hist. (1808) IV. 146 He could not think any thing more dangerous than the writing this Book..it blew up this parliament totally, and damned the Act of Oblivion. 1749 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 24 Nov. (1932) (modernized text) IV. 1444 A despatch with less than half these faults would blow you up for ever. 1791 J. Hampson Mem. J. Wesley I. 105 It was reported, that the college censors were going to blow up the Godly Club. b. To scold, rail at. colloquial. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > rebuke or reproof > rebuke or reprove [verb (transitive)] > scold chidec1230 ban1340 tongue1388 rate1393 flite14.. rehetec1400 janglec1430 chafec1485 rattle1542 berate1548 quarrel1587 hazen?1608 bequarrel1624 huff1674 shrewa1687 to claw away, off1692 tongue-pad1707 to blow up1710 scold1718 rag1739 redd1776 bullyraga1790 jaw1810 targe1825 haze1829 overhaul1840 tongue-walk1841 trim1882 to call down1883 tongue-lash1887 roar1917 to go off at (a person)1941 chew1948 wrinch2009 1710 Duchess of Marlborough Let. in A. T. Thomson Mem. (1839) II. viii. 173 This plainly showed that the cabal had been blowing her up, but that she could not, however, contradict her own order. 1807 G. Colman Let. 10 Dec. in J. C. Young Mem. C. M. Young (1871) I. ii. 47 Now for this I will blow you up! 1828 E. Bulwer-Lytton Pelham II. xviii. 171 Lord Gravelton..was ‘blowing’ up the waiters. 1882 B. D. W. Ramsay Recoll. Mil. Serv. I. iii. 55 He began to blow me up for not having provided quarters for his men and horses. c. To go to pieces, give out, fail. Chiefly U.S. slang. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > fail or be unsuccessful [verb (intransitive)] > collapse or come to nothing forworthc1000 folda1250 quailc1450 fruster?a1513 to come to nothing1523 to give out?1523 to fall to the ground?1526 quealc1530 to come to, end in, vanish into, smoke1604 intercide1637 to fall to dirt1670 to go off1740 to fall through1770 to fall apart1833 collapse1838 to run into the sand (also, now less commonly, sands)1872 to blow up1934 to blow out1939 1934 in Webster's New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. 1957 N. Frye Anat. Crit. iii. 178 An epilogue in Plautus informs us that the slave-actor who has blown up in his lines will now be flogged. 26. Thesaurus » a. intransitive. To undergo explosion; to go to pieces by explosion; to erupt. Usually with up. †b. transferred. To give way, collapse. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > falling > fall [verb (intransitive)] > collapse founder1489 sink1530 shrink1590 subside1678 collapse1732 blow1783 1694 London Gaz. No. 2994/3 Two Magazines blew up. 1783 Page in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 74 13 The work..from the weight upon one part only, might have blown. 1863 C. Kingsley Water-babies vi. 242 The mountain had blown up like a barrel of gunpowder. c. to blow out (see quot.). Said also of veins of metals; and figurative. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > go or come out [verb (intransitive)] > of something confined > forcibly (of fluid) to blow out1857 1857 Trans. Illinois State Agric. Soc. 1856–7 2 364 Quantities of the public lands were entered to cover the supposed copper mines. It has all blown out. 1873 J. H. Beadle Undeveloped West xviii. 333 The fluid turned aside to existing crevices, or ‘blew out’ through hollow chambers. 1881 Trans. Amer. Inst. Mining Engineers 1880–1 9 109 Blow-out..a shot or blast is said to blow out when it goes off like a gun and does not shatter the rock. d. With up. To lose one's temper; to ‘explode’. Cf. sense 24i. colloquial. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > anger > [verb (intransitive)] > become angry wrethec900 wrothc975 abelghec1300 to move one's blood (also mood)c1330 to peck moodc1330 gremec1460 to take firea1513 fumec1522 sourdc1540 spitec1560 to set up the heckle1601 fire1604 exasperate1659 to fire up1779 to flash up1822 to get one's dander up1831 to fly (occasionally jump, etc.) off (at) the handle1832 to have (also get) one's monkey up1833 to cut up rough, rusty, savage1837 rile1837 to go off the handle1839 to flare up1840 to set one's back up1845 to run hot1855 to wax up1859 to get one's rag out1862 blow1871 to get (also have) the pricker1871 to turn up rough1872 to get the needle1874 to blaze up1878 to get wet1898 spunk1898 to see red1901 to go crook1911 to get ignorant1913 to hit the ceiling1914 to hit the roof1921 to blow one's top1928 to lose one's rag1928 to lose one's haira1930 to go up in smoke1933 hackle1935 to have, get a cob on1937 to pop (also blow) one's cork1938 to go hostile1941 to go sparec1942 to do one's bun1944 to lose one's wool1944 to blow one's stack1947 to go (also do) one's (also a) dingerc1950 rear1953 to get on ignorant1956 to go through the roof1958 to keep (also blow, lose) one's cool1964 to lose ita1969 to blow a gasket1975 to throw a wobbler1985 1871 ‘M. Twain’ Lett. (1917) I. x. 189 Redpath tells me to blow up. Here goes! 1935 A. J. Cronin Stars look Down iii. iii. 497 ‘Good God, Harry,’ Joe blew up dramatically... ‘D'you mean to say it was as bad as that?’ 1979 N. Mailer Executioner's Song (1980) ii. x. 652 At this point, Gary blew up, ‘Those sons of bitches, those sons of bitches,’ he kept saying. III. Senses of doubtful position. 27. a. transitive. To expose, betray, inform upon. (Formerly sometimes blow up.) Now slang. Cf. 30. Also to blow the gab or gaff (see gab n.³ Phrases 2, gaff n.² 2). ΘΚΠ society > communication > information > informing on or against > inform on or against [verb (transitive)] wrayc725 meldeOE bimeldena1300 forgabc1394 to blow up?a1400 outsay?a1400 detectc1449 denounce1485 ascry1523 inform1526 promote1550 peach1570 blow1575 impeach1617 wheedle1710 split1795 snitch1801 cheep1831 squeal1846 to put away1858 spot1864 report1869 squawk1872 nose1875 finger1877 ruck1884 to turn over1890 to gag on1891 shop1895 pool1907 run1909 peep1911 pot1911 copper1923 finger1929 rat1932 to blow the whistle on1934 grass1936 rat1969 to put in1975 turn1977 society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or make revelations [verb (intransitive)] > disclose or reveal secrets tell1537 blaba1616 to let the cat out of the bag1760 to blow the gab or gaff1834 to shoot off one's mouth1864 to give the show away1879 unload1904 to spill the beans1919 to shoot the works1922 1575 R. B. Apius & Virginia sig. Civ Was all well agreed, did no body blow ye. 1702 J. Vanbrugh False Friend iv. ii So! she's here!..Now we are blown up! 1741 S. Richardson Pamela IV. xliv. 275 Thou deservest to be blown up, and to have thy Plot spoiled. 1770 J. Langhorne & W. Langhorne tr. Plutarch Lives (1879) II. 1035/1 So near was the great secret being blown. 1801 M. Edgeworth Good Aunt in Moral Tales IV. 98 He was afraid, that the mulatto woman should recollect either his face or voice, and should blow him. 1821 J. G. Lockhart Valerius I. xi. 202 The time is not yet come to blow his private doings. 1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple III. v. 68 I wasn't going to blow the gaff [= let out the secret]. 1925 E. Wallace Mind of Mr. J. G. Reeder v. 165 This officer ‘blew’ the raid to Tommy. 1958 G. Greene Our Man in Havana ii. 99 We can't risk blowing him now. 1958 G. Greene Our Man in Havana iii. i. 111 They're anxious you should take no risk of being blown. It doesn't matter so much if I'm blown. 1961 ‘B. Wells’ Day Earth caught Fire vii. 114 You can't go on blaming him for blowing the story you gave him. b. absol. To tell tales, ‘peach’. (See also 30.) ΘΚΠ society > communication > information > informing on or against > inform on or against [verb (intransitive)] inform1588 peach1598 whistle1599 sing1612 whiddlec1661 squeak1690 wheedle1710 whittle1735 to blow the gab1785 snitch1801 rat1810 nose1811 sing1816 gnarl1819 split1819 stag1839 clype1843 squeal1846 blow1848 to round on1857 nark1859 pimp1865 squawk1872 ruck1884 to come or turn copper1891 copper1897 sneak1897 cough1901 stool1911 tattle-tale1918 snout1923 talk1924 fink1925 scream1925 sarbut1928 grass1929 to turn over1967 dime1970 1848 ‘N. Buntline’ Mysteries & Miseries N.Y. ii. 48 To ‘blow’ would be to tell of some of my stealing. a1859 L. Hunt Country Lodging in C. Gibbon Casquet of Lit. (1877) I. 42/1 D——n me, if I don't blow..I'll tell Tom Neville. 1928 E. Wallace Gunner xxxiii. 281 If..Mr. Morell..has blown— has told the story of Taffany's, every boat will be watched. 1967 C. Drummond Death at Furlong Post xii. 154 If Ada blows she gets life, they don't like Crown Evidence these days. 28. Said of flies and other insects: To deposit their eggs. [This sense is apparently connected with old notions of natural history. It has nothing to do with the notion of blowing or inflating meat.] †a. transitive (with ‘blotes’ or eggs as obj.) Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > eggs or young > [verb (transitive)] > deposit eggs blow1607 1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 125 Worms..which are not bigger then such as Flyes blow in rotten flesh. 1657 S. Purchas Theatre Flying-insects 44 They [bees] then blow in it [a cell of the comb] a thing less then, or as little as a flye-blote. †b. absol. or intransitive. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > eggs or young > [verb (intransitive)] > lay eggs blowa1616 a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) iv. ii. 69 As summers flies..That quicken euen with blowing . View more context for this quotation 1657 S. Purchas Theatre Flying-insects 44 The matter in which they [bees] blow or breed is something that they gather of the flowers. 1692 T. Wagstaffe Vindic. King Charles xii. 83 It is the Nature of Flies to be ever buzzing, and blowing upon any thing that is raw. 1771 Gullet in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 62 350 This blows in the ear of the corn, and produces a worm. c. transitive. To deposit eggs on or in (a place); to fill with eggs. Cf. fly-blown adj. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > eggs or young > [verb (transitive)] > deposit eggs > deposit eggs on blow1598 blow1650 1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 409 These sommer flies, Haue blowne me full of maggot ostentation. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) iii. i. 63 To suffer The flesh-flie blow my mouth. View more context for this quotation 1650 N. Ward Discolliminium 50 When Eagles are deplum'd, the flyes will blow their breech. †d. with up. rare. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > eggs or young > [verb (transitive)] > deposit eggs > deposit eggs on blow1598 blow1650 1650 T. Fuller Pisgah-sight of Palestine ii. viii. 172 No wonder if Worms quickly devoured him [sc. Herod], whom those flesh-flies had blown up before. [A word-play on sense 23.] 29. Used informally in imprecations: To curse, ‘confound’, ‘hang’. (The past participle is blowed.) Also with the implication of ignoring or disregarding; blow!: used absol. as an exclamation of anger or vexation; blow me tight! (cf. sense 22). ΘΚΠ the mind > language > malediction > oaths > [verb (transitive)] > oaths other than religious or obscene confoundc1330 founda1382 hanga1400 whip1609 rat1691 fire1730 repique1760 curse1761 blow1781 blister1840 sugar1886 1781 G. Parker View Society & Manners I. 48 Blow me up (says he) if I have had a fellow with such rum toggys cross my company these many a day. 1819 T. Moore Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress 46 Says Bill, ‘there's nothing like a Bull: And blow me tight.’ 1821 P. Egan Life in London iii. 225 Blow me tight if ever I saw such a thing in my life before. 1827 J. Wight More Mornings Bow St. 55 Blow me if I do! 1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 2nd Ser. 184 The said Thomas Sludberry repeated the aforesaid expression, ‘You be blowed’. 1840 F. Marryat Olla Podrida III. 20 If I do, blow me! 1859 C. Dickens Tale of Two Cities ii. i. 36 One blowed thing and another. 1865 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend II. iv. xv. 287 Blowed if I shouldn't have left out lakes. 1871 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. May 551/2 Oh, blow it, governor. 1881 Daily Tel. 28 Jan. ‘Isn't it rather risky?’ I asked. ‘Blow risks,’ he answered. 1882 J. A. Lees & W. J. Clutterbuck Three in Norway xxiv. 207 Retributive justice be blowed! 1922 F. Hamilton P. J.: Secret Service Boy ii. 70 I'm absolutely blowed if I know what to do. 1922 F. Hamilton P. J.: Secret Service Boy ii. 84 Oh, blow! And I go back to school in ten days. 1933 P. MacDonald Myst. Dead Police i. 6 ‘Blow me tight!’ said Sergeant Guilfoil. For things were certainly happening in Farnley. 1957 I. Cross God Boy (1958) xv. 124 Then blow me if Dr Hutchinson..didn't come padding round the post office corner. 1963 Listener 28 Mar. 540/1 It is no longer proper to use as our second national motto in education ‘Blow you, Jack, our top five per cent. are absolutely splendid’. 30. to blow up(on) (a person or thing) has been used in various senses (see 30a); among others: To take the bloom off; to make stale or hackneyed; to bring into discredit, defame; also, to tell tales of, inform upon, expose (cf. 27). With indirect passive, to be blown upon (see 30b). In this latter sense the simple blow also occurs transitively (see 30c). a. ΘΚΠ society > communication > information > informing on or against > inform on or against [verb (transitive)] wrayc725 meldeOE bimeldena1300 forgabc1394 to blow up?a1400 outsay?a1400 detectc1449 denounce1485 ascry1523 inform1526 promote1550 peach1570 blow1575 impeach1617 wheedle1710 split1795 snitch1801 cheep1831 squeal1846 to put away1858 spot1864 report1869 squawk1872 nose1875 finger1877 ruck1884 to turn over1890 to gag on1891 shop1895 pool1907 run1909 peep1911 pot1911 copper1923 finger1929 rat1932 to blow the whistle on1934 grass1936 rat1969 to put in1975 turn1977 the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > slander or calumny > slander or calumniate [verb (transitive)] to say or speak shame of, on, byc950 teleeOE sayOE to speak evil (Old English be) ofc1000 belie?c1225 betell?c1225 missayc1225 skandera1300 disclanderc1300 wrenchc1300 bewrayc1330 bite1330 gothele1340 slanderc1340 deprave1362 hinderc1375 backbite1382 blasphemec1386 afamec1390 fame1393 to blow up?a1400 defamea1400 noise1425 to say well (also evil, ill, etc.) of (also by)1445 malignc1450 to speak villainy of1470 infame1483 injury1484 painta1522 malicea1526 denigrate1526 disfamea1533 misreporta1535 sugill?1539 dishonest?c1550 calumniate1554 scandalize1566 ill1577 blaze1579 traduce1581 misspeak1582 blot1583 abuse1592 wronga1596 infamonize1598 vilify1598 injure?a1600 forspeak1601 libel1602 infamize1605 belibel1606 calumnize1606 besquirt1611 colly1615 scandala1616 bedirt1622 soil1641 disfigurea1643 sycophant1642 spatter1645 sugillate1647 bespattera1652 bedung1655 asperse1656 mischieve1656 opprobriatea1657 reflect1661 dehonestate1663 carbonify1792 defamate1810 mouth1810 foul-mouth1822 lynch1836 rot1890 calumny1895 ding1903 bad-talk1938 norate1938 bad-mouth1941 monster1967 ?a1400 Morte Arth. (1819) 47 A monge hem all be fore the dese He bloweth oute vppon the quene, To haue hys ryght. 1634 Malory's Arthur (1816) II. 438 Then Sir Gawaine made many men to blow upon Sir Launcelot, and all at once they called him ‘False recreant Knight!’ 1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. at Blaw To Blaw out on one, formally to denounce one as a rebel by three blasts of the king's horn at the market-cross of the head-borough of the shire; an old forensic phrase. 1844 Spirit of Times 20 Jan. 557/2 Go! Get off; I'll not blow on you. 1876 J. Weiss Wit, Humor, & Shakespeare ii. 51 Why..does she not blow upon the doctor? 1877 J. Greenwood Dick Temple II. i. 10 She ain't got nobody but me to keep a secret for her, and I've been and blowed on her. 1916 E. Wallace Clue of Twisted Candle (1918) xvii. 197 I'm not going to blow on it, if it's going to get me into trouble, but if you'll promise me that it won't, I'll tell you the whole story. 1960 ‘W. Haggard’ Closed Circuit viii. 94 There could be only one explanation: Menderez had blown on him. b. ΚΠ 1645 J. Howell Epistolæ Ho-elianæ vi. xxxix. 60 I Thank you for the good opinion you..have of my fancy of Trees: It is a maiden one, and not blown upon by any one yet. 1678 J. Norris Coll. Misc. (1699) 325 I wave these, and fix upon another account less Blown upon. 1679 W. Penn Addr. Protestants App. 246 A Man of Wisdom, Sobriety and Ability..if a Dissenter, must be blown upon for a Phanatick. 1709 S. Centlivre Busie Body ii. ii. 26 If I can but keep my Daughter from being blown upon 'till Signeur Babinetto arrives. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 105. ¶5 He will..whisper an Intriegue that is not yet blown upon by common Fame. 1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 464. ⁋1 I am wonderfully pleased when I meet with any Passage in an old Greek or Latin Author, that is not blown upon. 1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones IV. x. ii. 15 The Reputation of her House, which was never blown upon before, was utterly destroyed. View more context for this quotation 1845 R. Ford Hand-bk. Travellers in Spain I. i. 17 If once blown upon, no one would employ them. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 48 The credit of the false witnesses had been blown upon. 1877 A. M. Sullivan New Ireland xxiii. 276 They had got word that the plot was ‘blown upon’ by some traitor. c. ΚΠ 1864 Duke of Manchester Court & Society I. 80 Puebla's character had been somewhat blown. †31. to blow (in) a bowl: to tipple, to be a habitual drunkard. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > excess in drinking > [verb (intransitive)] > drink habitually drinka1275 to blow (in) a bowlc1500 use1600 c1500 Blowbols Test. 29 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. (1864) I. 93 Many a throw Of good ale bolys that he had i-blowe. c1530 A. Barclay Egloges i. sig. Diij v To blowe in a bowle, and for to pyll a platter. 32. To treat (someone) to. U.S. slang. Also reflexive. (See also quot. 1889.) ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > providing or receiving food > feed or nourish [verb (transitive)] > entertain with food feasta1325 festya1382 rehetec1400 cheerc1425 table1457 treata1578 banquet1594 kitchena1616 junket1642 regale1656 collation1662 fete1812 sport1826 sock1842 blow1949 1889 A. Barrère & C. G. Leland Dict. Slang I. 134/1 To blow off, to treat to drinks. 1896 G. Ade Artie xvii. 155 ‘I noticed that you'd been talking bicycle lately, but I didn't know you were going to get one.’ ‘..I'm goin' to do the sucker act and blow myself.’ 1903 C. L. Burnham Jewel 97 Father took me to the horse show... He told mother he was going to blow me to it. 1949 A. Miller Death of Salesman 11 Tell Dad, we want to blow him to a good meal. 33. coarse slang. To fellate. Also intransitive, to practise fellatio. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > oral sex > practise oral sex [verb (intransitive)] > fellatio fellate1884 to suck cock1902 blow1933 nosh1961 to slob (on) someone's knob1989 to slob the knob1989 the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > oral sex > practise oral sex on or with [verb (transitive)] > fellatio irrumate1887 gam1910 gobble1928 blow1933 fellate1948 cocksuck1954 to suck dicka1956 nosh1961 to polish someone's knob1963 1933 Brevities (N.Y.) 12 Oct. 1 (heading) Sexy sailors blow! Bawdy boys run riot on high seas as fags stir emotions of rollicking rovers. 1941 G. Legman in G. W. Henry Sex Variants II. 1158 Blow, to fellate or cunnilingue, the object being the person, and not the genital organ. 1959 W. S. Burroughs Naked Lunch 86 ‘Darling, I want to blow you,’ she whispers. 1968 J. Updike Couples ii. 148 The bitch won't blow unless she's really looped. What did the Bard say? To fuck is human; to be blown, divine. 1969 P. Roth Portnoy's Complaint 191 ‘I want you to come in my mouth,’ and so she blew me. 1978 M. Puzo Fools Die vi. 82 There was a whole regiment of floozy Nightingales passing through his hotel room, washing him, feeding him and, as they tucked him in, blowing him to make sure he was relaxed enough to get a good night's sleep. Draft additions September 2013 transitive. Originally U.S. To open (a safe) using explosives. Cf. earlier safe-blower n., safe-blowing n. ΚΠ 1871 Galaxy Oct. 495 Such famous marauders as..Amos Leeds (who was happily killed while blowing a safe). 1900 Overland Monthly July 58 Just..fix the engineer and messenger while they blow the safe. 1951 P. G. Wodehouse Old Reliable iv. 51 Are you a safeblower magically gifted with the art of buttling, or a butler who has somehow picked up the knack of blowing safes? 1976 Irish Times 19 July 9/5 Burglars hit an oil depot in Navan, and having watched all the right TV serials, tried to blow the safe. 2005 J. Kaplan Contact Wounds (2007) 210 He's..joined up with these bank robbers and there's been an explosion when they tried to blow the safe and it went wrong. Draft additions September 2013 transitive. Baseball. To pitch (a ball) at high speed by or past an opponent. Also in extended use in other sports. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > play baseball [verb (transitive)] > actions of pitcher pitch1848 curve1877 to put over1891 scatter1892 save1899 to put across1903 walk1905 fan1909 plunk1909 southpaw1911 whiff1914 sidearm1921 sidearm1922 outpitch1928 blow1938 hang1967 wild pitch1970 1938 Washington Post 3 June 21/1 Pitching overhand, he literally blew the ball past the batter, but he was not utterly reliant on his fast one. 1952 Afro-Amer. 10 May 15 Work on your curve; you can't blow it by these guys up here. 1964 Call & Post (Cleveland, Ohio) 24 Oct. c1/6 That is the way he pitched in the World Series, hard and fast... He simply blew the ball past those Yanks. 1995 Pittsburgh Post-Gaz. (Nexis) 1 June e13 He's really powerful, though, with his groundstrokes. He just blew the ball past me a few times. 2010 M. Dobrow Knocking on Heaven's Door xx. 266 He couldn't blow the ball by hitters anymore, and the ‘power curve’ just wasn't as sharp. Draft additions October 2001 transitive. Originally U.S. To cause (the engine of a motor vehicle, esp. a racing car) to break down, esp. through overloading or overheating. Also intransitive, of an engine: to break down. ΚΠ 1960 Guide to Drag Racing (Fremont Drag Strip) 11/1 Blew, engine trouble of various types, ‘He blew’. 1962 Washington Daily News 30 July 43/3 Dick Brannan, South Bend, Ind., turned 112.92 with his '62 Ford in the warm-ups but blew his engine in the Bond runs. 1978 Detroit Free Press 5 Mar. c2 Ricardo Patrese..seized the lead on the 29th lap, built a sizable edge and blew his engine on the 63d lap. 1986 Grand Prix Internat. July 46/3 The session was interrupted again after Palmer's engine had blown, setting fire to the rear of his Zakspeed. 1998 Indianapolis Star 25 Jan. b9/1 Last year's disappointing run, where he led 131 of 149 laps before blowing an engine just before the race was red-flagged by rain. Draft additions July 2009 intransitive. North American slang. To be contemptible, tiresome, or disagreeable; = suck v. 15f. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > worthlessness > [verb (intransitive)] to eat shit1942 blow1960 suck1971 bite1975 1960 R. Reuss & G. Legman in J. E. Lighter Hist. Dict. Amer. Slang (1994) I. 198/2 Hell Week really blows! 1986 H. B. Gilmour Pretty in Pink 81 That won't change the fact that this school blows. 1999 J. Bendinger Cheer Fever (film script) (O.E.D. Archive) 77 Fine. But..this blows. It sucked before and now it blows. 2003 Chicago Tribune (Midwest ed.) 21 Sept. vii. 18/1 I judge a hotel by how good its cheeseburger is... I don't care how many stars it has, if the cheeseburger blows, then I'm getting a different hotel. Draft additions October 2001 to blow away 1. transitive. To destroy or obliterate in an explosion, or with a firearm; to subject to an explosion, to blow up; (in extended use) to ruin, devastate. Also (now chiefly U.S. slang): to shoot dead. Frequently in passive. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > bring to ruin or put an end to undoc950 shendOE forfarea1000 endc1000 to do awayOE aquenchc1175 slayc1175 slayc1175 stathea1200 tinea1300 to-spilla1300 batec1300 bleschea1325 honisha1325 leesea1325 wastec1325 stanch1338 corrumpa1340 destroy1340 to put awayc1350 dissolvec1374 supplanta1382 to-shend1382 aneantizec1384 avoidc1384 to put outa1398 beshenda1400 swelta1400 amortizec1405 distract1413 consumec1425 shelfc1425 abroge1427 downthringc1430 kill1435 poisonc1450 defeat1474 perish1509 to blow away1523 abrogatea1529 to prick (also turn, pitch) over the perka1529 dash?1529 to bring (also send) to (the) pot1531 put in the pot1531 wipea1538 extermine1539 fatec1540 peppera1550 disappoint1563 to put (also set) beside the saddle1563 to cut the throat of1565 to throw (also turn, etc.) over the perch1568 to make a hand of (also on, with)1569 demolish1570 to break the neck of1576 to make shipwreck of1577 spoil1578 to knock on (in) the head (also rarely at head)1579 cipher1589 ruinate1590 to cut off by the shins1592 shipwreck1599 exterminate1605 finish1611 damnify1612 ravel1614 braina1616 stagger1629 unrivet1630 consummate1634 pulverizea1640 baffle1649 devil1652 to blow up1660 feague1668 shatter1683 cook1708 to die away1748 to prove fatal (to)1759 to knock up1764 to knock (or kick) the hindsight out or off1834 to put the kibosh on1834 to cook (rarely do) one's goose1835 kibosh1841 to chaw up1843 cooper1851 to jack up1870 scuttle1888 to bugger up1891 jigger1895 torpedo1895 on the fritz1900 to put paid to1901 rot1908 down and out1916 scuppera1918 to put the skids under1918 stonker1919 liquidate1924 to screw up1933 cruel1934 to dig the grave of1934 pox1935 blow1936 to hit for six1937 to piss up1937 to dust off1938 zap1976 the world > life > death > killing > killing by specific method > kill [verb (transitive)] > by shooting shootc893 shootc1275 to blow away1523 carry1653 to shoot (a person) down1845 stop1845 blow1871 ventilate1875 Maxim1894 poop1917 to blow apart1920 smoke1926 clip1927 cowboy1941 zap1942 Sten-gun1949 to light up1967 slot1987 the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > breaking or cracking > break [verb (transitive)] > break to pieces, shatter, or burst > blow up or explode to blow away1523 blow1599 to blow (shiver, smash, tear, etc.) to or into atoms1612 blast1758 to blow sky-high1823 dynamite1881 lyddite1906 1523 J. Skelton Goodly Garlande of Laurell sig. Cii The blaste of ye byrnston blew away his brayne. a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. xxvi. sig. Yy7^v I heard of my friendes being besieged, and so came to blowe away the wretches that troubled him. 1627 W. Hawkins Apollo Shroving ii. iii. 27 Blow away your enemy out of the field with one blast. 1679 F. Beaumont Knight of Burning Pestle v. i. 65 Ralph.: What's become o'th' nose of your flaske? 1 Sold.: Indeed law Captain, 'twas blown away with powder. 1778 F. Pilon Invasion ii. 33 If the enemy have any artillery, all the under part of the house will be blown away at the first discharge. 1831 J. Wilson Unimore v, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Aug. 156 Generations have been blown away By war in foreign lands. 1900 H. D. Rawnsley Ballads of War 5 His whole right hand had been blown away. 1939 in A. Banks First-person Amer. (1981) 251 A bunch of them wops showed up in a car n tried to blow him away. 1994 Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey) 24 Apr. iii 5/3 HYM was blown away by a sudden drop in the price of several investments derived on Wall Street from the imaginative selling and reselling of common homeowner mortgages. 2001 People (Electronic ed.) 1 July He stood over his kneeling victim and listened to his frantic pleas before blowing him away. 2. transitive. slang (originally U.S.). To disprove or demolish (an argument, etc.) forcefully and emphatically; to show to be false or unfounded, to discredit. ΚΠ 1959 R. Heywood Sixth Sense 103 But the epiphenomenalistic bosh..that's simply blown away. It's one of the blind alleys of human thought. 1966 R. Giallombardo Society of Women App. B. (Gloss.) 201 Blow away, to silence by forceful argument, to talk belligerently. 1987 Skin Diver Aug. 131/1 That sort of blows away all their theories on growth rates of black coral. 1992 Enroute (Air Canada) Sept. 8/2 (advt.) Sony Compact Audio Systems. With one press of the remote, you'll quickly and soundly blow away the myth that bigger is better. 3. transitive. slang (originally U.S.). To defeat convincingly (esp. at sport); to surpass (a rival or competitor); (Jazz) to outperform (a fellow musician). Cf. earlier to blow out at sense 4a.The use among jazz musicians, though most obviously derived from sense 14e, shows the influence of other uses (sense 12a and to blow away vb.). Although attested later here, it has been suggested that this use in Jazz is the origin of the more general sense: see Comments on Etymol. (1989) Jan. 9. ΚΠ 1974 Washington Post 1 July d6/2 The classic matchup—the king of sport against the unknown kid—was settled quickly. ‘The kid knocked me right off. He blew me away.’ 1976 C. Calloway & B. Rollins Of Minnie the Moocher & Me 73 Each band would play a couple of sets, trying to blow the other band away. 1986 World Boxing Sept. 54/2 Bruno blew away journeyman Larry Frazier in less than two rounds. 1990 Videographic Apr. 29/1 Obviously it is far slower than something like Paintbox, but its versatility blows Paintbox away. 1999 BBC Top Gear Mag. June 43/1 For the first time since they blew away the opposition in 1937–39, the awesome Mercedes W154 GP cars are returning to Donington. 4. transitive. slang (originally U.S.). To astonish, delight, or thrill; to impress extremely, to overwhelm. Cf. to blow (a person's) mind at sense 24j.Perhaps related to the slightly earlier blown away ‘intoxicated with drink or drugs’: see blown adj.¹ ΚΠ 1974 J. M. Young et al. We are being played or blown Away (Library of Congress MS sheet music) (Eu 478437) Blown, blown, blown away By my soft, tequila-fingered lady. 1975 Washington Post 24 May e32/4 (cartoon caption) Days like this just blow me away—seems like all the world's at peace with itself. 1988 G. Lees Meet me at Jim & Andy's viii. 135 They were hot. They blew the Monterey Festival away that year. 1995 Q June 102/3 You Really Got Me by The Kinks. I heard it when I was at school and it really blew me away. Draft additions October 2001 to blow a kiss and variants: to gesture as if to kiss someone at a remove but within one's view, esp. to kiss the tips of one's fingers and blow across them towards the recipient(s) as a gesture of affection or farewell. Also figurative.Frequently with recipient as indirect object. ΘΚΠ society > communication > indication > gesturing or gesture > hand gesture > [verb (intransitive)] > finger gesture > other finger gestures fillip1577 to blow a kiss1611 1611 L. Emley in T. Coryate Crudities sig. i^v And Germany, since thee she needs must misse, In kind remembrance blowes thee a full kisse. 1677 A. Behn Rover ii. i. 21 (stage direct.) Antonio..bows and blows up kisses. 1765 I. Bickerstaff Maid of Mill ii. viii. 38 Blow me a kiss, In pledge-promis'd truth, that's all. Farewell! 1812 H. Smith & J. Smith Rejected Addr. 10 If you'll blow to me a kiss, I'll blow a kiss to you. 1891 T. Hardy Tess of the D'Urbervilles II. xxi. 9 They all three blew him a silent kiss. 1908 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables viii. 87 Anne blew a couple of airy kisses from her fingertips past the cherry blossoms. 1969 Sunday Times 9 Nov. 24/8 A personable girl was waving to me, blowing kisses. 1991 Rolling Stone 21 Feb. 33 The Caribbean breeze meets the native funk, and together they blow a big kiss at the turistas. Draft additions October 2001 transitive. to blow off: (a) (now U.S. slang) to rebuff, to reject the advances of (a person); to ignore, disregard, dismiss; (b) U.S. slang, to shirk or evade (a job or duty), to stay away from (school or work) without permission or good reason. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > ignore, disregard [verb (transitive)] fordita800 forheedc1275 forget1297 to let out ofa1300 spele1338 to go beside ——a1382 waivec1400 remiss?a1425 to go by ——?c1450 misknowledge?a1475 misknow1483 misken1494 to go besides ——1530 to let pass1530 unregard1545 unmind1562 overlook1570 mislippen1581 suspend1581 omit1589 blanch1605 to blow off1631 disregard1641 to pass with ——1641 to give (a person or thing) the go-by1654 prescind1654 nihilify1656 proscribe1680 unnotice1776 ignore1795 to close one's mind1797 cushion1818 to leave out in the cold1839 overslaugh1846 unheed1847 to write off1861 to look through ——1894 scrub1943 the mind > language > statement > refusal > [verb (transitive)] > rebuff rebut1488 reject1529 counterbuff1579 rebuffa1586 repel1593 slighta1616 to blow off1631 squab1812 respue1818 snout1916 stiff-arm1927 to knock back1930 to brush off1941 1631 B. Jonson New Inne ii. vi. sig. D2 Blow him off good Pru, they'l mar all else. 1668 E. Howard Usurper iv. 54 Clean.: Remember he's your Son. Dam.: Thus I blow off that name. 1856 W. S. Landor Anthony & Octavius viii. 74 Let him brush kings away and blow off queens. 1947 B. Schulberg Harder they Fall xv. 253 I was just thinking like a moon-struck freshman when I was..deciding to blow Nick off. 1968 F. M. Spillane Killer Mine 14 I'm a cop, plain and simple. But I'm just cop enough to blow off a job I don't want to get fixed into. 1975 S. Bellow Humboldt's Gift (1976) 440 ‘And where is she?’ I didn't answer. ‘She blew you off. I see.’ 1988 J. McInerney Story of my Life ii. 29 Did you blow off work, I ask, and he says he called in and said he was taking the day off, he had one coming. 1993 Coloradoan (Fort Collins) 30 May c4/2 Don't obsess, but don't blow it off as useless information, say health professionals. Draft additions October 2001 transitive. to blow out of the water: (a) literal to propel out of water by the force of an explosion; (b) figurative (colloquial) to expose ruinously, to show (a person, idea, or scheme) to lack all credibility or potential; to bring about the downfall of, esp. by sudden, drastic, decisive action. ΚΠ 1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random II. lxv. 321 This discovery had an evident effect upon the sailors, who did not scruple to say, that we should be tore to pieces, and blown out of the water. 1785 F. Pilon Fair Amer. iii. 58 I'll send him a challenge, and make him eat his words; or he shall blow old Cable out of the water. 1803 G. Huddesford Bonaparte xii. 20 When Nelson with Brueys And his ships play'd the deuce, Burnt, captur'd, or sunk, or blown out of the water. 1846 G. W. Lovell Look before you Leap v. ii. 75 Tom: Oh, there is such a row! (Runs out, L.)Spriggs: I've blown him out of the water. Fanny: Oh, Jack, you have ruined him! 1860 H. R. Shipley Privateer's Cruise ii. 22 Why that craft can blow us out of the water in a couple of broadsides; she throws a weight of metal treble our own. 1959 S. H. Adams Tenderloin xxxix. 330 If I can find a way I'll blow the whole damned investigation right out of the water. 1979 J. Cassidy Station in Delta vi. 77 You do everything by the book, or..I'll blow you right out of the water! 1984 J. Bedford Titron Madness xiv. 122 There aren't enough of us to search the ship... We could still be looking for it when they blow us out of the water. 1997 Daily Mail 15 Jan. 52/5 Things finally seem to be looking up for Kelly—which is more than can be said for Biff, whose romantic plans are blown out of the water by Linda. Draft additions October 2001 to blow out 1. transitive. slang (chiefly U.S.). To defeat convincingly (esp. at sport); (Jazz) to outperform (a fellow musician).The use among jazz musicians may have arisen independently, perhaps influenced by sense 14e: see Comments on Etymol. (1989) Jan. 9–10. ΚΠ 1892 W. J. Florence Gentleman's Handbk. Poker 91 When a big bet is made which drives out the other players, they are sometimes said to be ‘blown out’. 1956 ‘B. Holiday’ & W. Dufty Lady sings Blues iv. 56 Chu was sitting there and everybody started arguing as to who could blow out whom, trying to promote a [saxophone-playing] competition between Lester and Chu. 1978 Washington Post 11 June d6/6 Before the injuries, we were getting to a point where we were feeling we could blow out anyone. 1980 N.Y. Times 3 June b2/1 ‘We'll blow them out,’ said Mr. Shiel, who has already said he intends to run for Mayor. 1991 Sports Illustr. 4 Mar. 58/2 They're blowing out everybody. They are as good a women's college team as I've ever seen. 1998 Boxing Monthly Apr. 45/2 Mercer easily blows out New Jersey bodybuilder. 2. intransitive. slang. Of a person: to be unsuccessful, fail; to perform badly. Of a situation, plan, etc.: to fall through, go wrong; to come to nothing. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > fail or be unsuccessful [verb (intransitive)] withsitc1330 fail1340 defaulta1382 errc1430 to fall (also go) by the wayside1526 misthrive1567 miss1599 to come bad, or no, speedc1600 shrink1608 abortivea1670 maroon1717 to flash in the pan1792 skunk1831 to go to the dickens1833 to miss fire1838 to fall flat1841 fizzle1847 to lose out1858 to fall down1873 to crap out1891 flivver1912 flop1919 skid1920 to lay an egg1929 to blow out1939 to strike out1946 bomb1963 to come (also have) a buster1968 the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > fail or be unsuccessful [verb (intransitive)] > collapse or come to nothing forworthc1000 folda1250 quailc1450 fruster?a1513 to come to nothing1523 to give out?1523 to fall to the ground?1526 quealc1530 to come to, end in, vanish into, smoke1604 intercide1637 to fall to dirt1670 to go off1740 to fall through1770 to fall apart1833 collapse1838 to run into the sand (also, now less commonly, sands)1872 to blow up1934 to blow out1939 1939 H. Hodge Cab, Sir? xv. 221 When a cabman puts on a theatre or restaurant rank, and gets first just as the lights go out and the door shuts, he has ‘blown out’. a1969 J. Kerouac Visions of Cody (1972) 374 Everything blew out on that Cadillac trip East, there's nothing left. 1970 P. Laurie Scotl. Yard (App.) Blow out, to, for a case, theory, accusation, to fall down. 1992 Atlantic Sept. 50/2 Many of these families had biological children who were doing very well. But these adopted kids seemed to be blowing out left and right. 3. North American Sport slang. (a) intransitive, (of a part of one's body) to become ineffective through injury; (b) transitive, to injure (a part of one's body). ΚΠ 1984 G. Nettles & P. Golenbock Balls vii. 92 His back blew out on him. 1984 Sports Illustr. 30 Apr. 63/2 Fingers..blew out his arm in September 1982 during Milwaukee's drive to the American League pennant. 1992 Golf Monthly May 174/1 Mediate grew up as a baseball pitcher, but turned to golf when he blew out his arm trying to snap a curve ball. 2000 U.S. News & World Rep. 24 Jan. 56/2 He blew out his knee playing basketball. 4. transitive. Chiefly British. To let (a person) down or shut (a person) out; to rebuff, reject the advances of (a person). Also: to fail to keep (an appointment), esp. deliberately, to jilt; to shirk. Cf. earlier to blow off at Additions. ΚΠ 1987 Classic Racer Summer 60/1 Then at the last minute Florian's wife..nipped over to the factory, swung the deal in favour of Florian and blew me out. 1989 Melody Maker 25 Nov. 7/4 After blowing out shows at Hammersmith Odeon by missing his Concorde flight, Jerry called up his PR people in London to say..he'd missed two more planes. 1991 J. Phillips You'll never eat Lunch in this Town Again (1992) 90 We have a brief conference and blow out the meeting anyway. 1996 V. Walters Rude Girls xiii. 273 His face had a blank expression. Shree had just blown him out in a big way, but no one would be able to tell. 1999 J. Lloyd & E. Rees Come Together iii. 68 I was drunk and I'd been blown out so many times in the last hour that I'd dismissed the idea of pulling from my mind. Draft additions October 2001 transitive. to blow a gasket. a. literal. To have a gasket (gasket n. 3) come loose due to excess pressure. ΚΠ 1907 Michigan Rep. 149 373 He was cleaning out some beer tanks in the cellar when a rubber gasket blew out from between the flanges.] 1928 Federal Reporter 2nd Ser. 27 891/2 [He] lost his lift because of the blowing out of a gasket, resulting in the ignition of gases or crude oil from the engine. 1944 Q. Reynolds Curtain Rises iv. 94 This car needs to have its valves ground... Its gears are stripped and we are a cinch to blow a gasket. 1969 Surf Internat. (Austral.) I. xi. 13 Nat and Paul push the woodie, it's stoked too, an' finally blows its gasket. 1991 R. R. McCammon Boy's Life i. vi. 81 Old Moses made a noise like a locomotive about to blow its gaskets. b. figurative (colloquial). (a) (Of a person) to become ill, collapse; (of an organization, situation, etc.) to break down, go wrong (rare); (b) to lose one's temper or self-control, to become uncontrollably angry; cf. to blow a fuse, sense 19c. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > anger > [verb (intransitive)] > become angry wrethec900 wrothc975 abelghec1300 to move one's blood (also mood)c1330 to peck moodc1330 gremec1460 to take firea1513 fumec1522 sourdc1540 spitec1560 to set up the heckle1601 fire1604 exasperate1659 to fire up1779 to flash up1822 to get one's dander up1831 to fly (occasionally jump, etc.) off (at) the handle1832 to have (also get) one's monkey up1833 to cut up rough, rusty, savage1837 rile1837 to go off the handle1839 to flare up1840 to set one's back up1845 to run hot1855 to wax up1859 to get one's rag out1862 blow1871 to get (also have) the pricker1871 to turn up rough1872 to get the needle1874 to blaze up1878 to get wet1898 spunk1898 to see red1901 to go crook1911 to get ignorant1913 to hit the ceiling1914 to hit the roof1921 to blow one's top1928 to lose one's rag1928 to lose one's haira1930 to go up in smoke1933 hackle1935 to have, get a cob on1937 to pop (also blow) one's cork1938 to go hostile1941 to go sparec1942 to do one's bun1944 to lose one's wool1944 to blow one's stack1947 to go (also do) one's (also a) dingerc1950 rear1953 to get on ignorant1956 to go through the roof1958 to keep (also blow, lose) one's cool1964 to lose ita1969 to blow a gasket1975 to throw a wobbler1985 the mind > emotion > anger > [verb (intransitive)] > become angry > become unduly angry to have a cow1959 to get one's knickers in a twist1971 to blow a gasket1975 1946 Liberty 1 June 36/3 Better slow down, old man, or you'll blow a gasket. 1959 Jrnl. Higher Educ. 30 449 I am against trustee control of the curriculum... Even if they give it back graciously..to such a ‘new mechanism’ as a ‘rededicated, revitalized and strengthened Committee of the Faculty’... I have seen too many dedicated and vitalized mechanisms blow a gasket to feel otherwise. 1975 Daily Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 22 May 2 No matter how many times you've blown a gasket about a speeding ticket or some other minor infraction, the policeman is still your friend. 1995 Sun 26 Apr. (TV Suppl.) 4/3 Lilly's big romantic evening blows a gasket. 1999 Yahoo! Internet Life Dec. 89 There is one sure way to make great science fiction writers blow a gasket..: Ask them to predict the future. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online June 2022). blowv.² Brit. /bləʊ/, U.S. /bloʊ/ Forms: Past tense blew /bl(j)uː/. Past participle blown /bləʊn/. Forms: Old English blówan, Middle English blowen, Middle English–1600s blowe, 1500s– blow. past tense Old English bléow, Middle English bleou, ( bloude). past participle Old English ( ge)blówen, (Middle English blowe), 1500s– blown. Etymology: Old English blówan , 3rd singular bléwp , past tense bléow , past participle blówen , represented in the other West Germanic languages by weak verbs, Old Saxon blôjan (Middle Dutch and Dutch bloeien ), Old High German bluojan (Middle High German blüejen , blüen , modern German blühen ), pointing to an Old Germanic strong verb blôjan , from root blō-* , cognate with Latin flōs , flōrem flower, flōrēre to bloom; compare bloom n.¹, blossom n., blade n., blede n. Already in Old English the past tense coincided with that of bláwan , blow v.¹, and in Middle English the two verbs ran together in form. 1. a. intransitive. To burst into flower; to blossom, bloom. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > flower or flowering plant > be a flowering plant [verb (intransitive)] > flower or blossom blossomc890 blowc1000 flower13.. blooma1325 breakc1325 lancec1330 flourishc1386 to break up?a1500 knopa1584 effloresce1775 outbreak1870 c1000 Sax. Leechd. I. 98 Ðonne heo grewð & blewð. c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 177 Trewes growen, blouwen and bereð blostmen. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 1008 Bi-heold he þene wode hu he bleou [c1300 Otho bloude]. c1400 in Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. (1790) 472 April, May, and June, while that trees blowen. 1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball v. xxi. 578. 1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream ii. i. 249 I know a banke where the wilde time blowes . View more context for this quotation 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vii. 319 These scarce blown, Forth flourish't thick the clustring Vine. View more context for this quotation 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 13 The Blossoms blow; the Birds on bushes sing. 1855 Ld. Tennyson Daisy in Maud & Other Poems 138 Here and there,..A milky-bell'd amaryllis blew. b. transferred. ΚΠ c1430 Hymns Virg. (1867) 69 Now seiþ he, he loued me to longe, For myn heer bigynneþ to blowe. 2. figurative. To flourish, bloom; to attain perfection. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > prosperity > prosper or flourish [verb (intransitive)] theec888 i-thee971 bloomc1175 flower?c1225 soundfula1300 fructifya1325 timea1325 to bear the bloom1330 flourisha1340 prosperc1350 thrive?a1366 blossom1377 cheve1377 burgeona1382 likec1400 upthrivec1440 avail1523 fadge1573 to bear a great, high or lofty sail1587 blow1610 to be (also stand) in state1638 fatten1638 sagaciate1832 to be going strong1855 1610 J. Guillim Display of Heraldrie iii. viii. 110 Our flowry youth..It growes, it blowes, it spreds, it sheds her beauty in one day. 1676 J. Dryden Aureng-Zebe Prol. Wit in Northern Climates will not blow. 1842 Ld. Tennyson Talking Oak xix, in Poems (new ed.) II. 68 In these latter springs I saw Your own Olivia blow. 3. transitive. To cause to blossom. literal or figurative ? Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > flower or flowering plant > be or affect a flowering plant [verb (transitive)] > cause to flower or blossom blow1635 gem1667 1635 W. Habington Castara (ed. 2) ii. 166 The enamor'd Spring by kissing blowes Soft blushes on her [the rose's] cheeke. 1746 M. Delany Autobiogr. & Corr. (1861) II. 417 Houses built up for blowing auriculas. 1801 M. Edgeworth Rosamond iii. 78 in Early Lessons v Directions for blowing bulbous-rooted flowers. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online December 2021). > see also also refers to : blow-comb. form < n.¹1488n.²?1611n.³1710v.¹c1000v.²c1000 see also
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blown.1

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blowv.1

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blowv.2

> see also

blown.¹

blown.²

blown.³

blowv.¹

blowv.²