blow-comb. form
For convenience of reference all the combinations are treated here, although those under 3, certainly, and 2, apparently, are formed from the verb.
1. With adverbs, denoting actions; as See also blowout n., blow-up n.
blow-away adj.
Brit. 
/ˈbləʊəˌweɪ/
, /ˈbləʊəˌweɪ/U.S. /ˈbloʊəˌweɪ/
(cf. blow v.1 12a), susceptible to the influence of a current of air, hence fragile; also figurative./ˈbloʊəˌweɪ/ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > substantiality or concreteness > unsubstantiality or abstractness > [adjective]
flittingc1374
aerya1398
bottomlessa1413
hollowa1529
flittering1549
wanzing1571
aerial1581
slight1585
flit1590
windy1593
filmy1594
tenuous1597
unsubstantial1597
yeasty1598
thingless1599
airy1600
spare1602
spongy1603
insubstantial1607
baselessa1616
thina1616
insolid1618
insubstantiate1621
tenuious1634
bubble1635
thin-spun1638
subventaneous1646
unsubstanceda1658
whipped1673
aericala1678
huffy1678
blatherya1693
naughty1696
substanceless1784
vapoury1818
aeriform1827
airified1837
blow-away1858
non-substantial1858
unbased1860
evasive1881
stuffless1896
fabricless1905
lighter-than-air1909
the world > matter > properties of materials > lightness > [adjective] > extremely > light as air
flit1590
aerial1606
airya1631
aery-light1667
blow-away1858
lighter-than-air1909
1858 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 19 257 It is represented as being at that time a blow-away sand.
1908 Daily Chron. 22 June 3/4 The Commissioners got little of the right sort of evidence.., and were dealing..with ‘a mass of blow-away stuff’.
1938 F. S. Fitzgerald Let. 18 Nov. (1964) 42 You unveiled the story of the blow-away pink slip.
1958 Vogue July 86 The blowaway prettiness of an Empire dress.
blow-back n.
Brit. /ˈbləʊbak/
, /ˈbləʊbak/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌbæk/
the act or process of blowing back; spec. (a) the back-pressure in a boiler or internal-combustion engine; (b) in firearms (cf. blow v.1 24e)./ˈbloʊˌbæk/ΚΠ
1883 J. D. Fulton Sam Hobart, Locomotive Engineer 224 The flames originated from the ‘blow back’ on the engine.
1899 Westm. Gaz. 13 July 7/2 Foul barrels were the cause of ineffectual shots and ‘blow-back’ caps.
1905 Kynoch Jrnl. Jan.–Mar. 10 The cracks..will at once develop into fissures when the cartridge is fired, cause ‘blow-backs’, and seriously reduce the velocity of the projectile.
1907 Daily Chron. 22 July 7/1 His cartridge being a defective one—what is called a ‘blow back’.
1929 Evening News 18 Nov. 14/3 He received his injuries as the result of a blow-back in one of the boilers when pulverised fuel was being lit.
1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict. 98/2 Blow back, the return, at low speeds, of some of the induced mixture through the carburettor of a petrol-engine; due to late closing of the inlet valve during compression.
blow-by n.
Brit. /ˈbləʊbʌɪ/
, /ˈbləʊbʌɪ/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌbaɪ/
(see quot. 1959); also attributive./ˈbloʊˌbaɪ/ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > engine > internal-combustion engine > [noun] > vapours
blow-by1933
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > engine > internal-combustion engine > [adjective] > vapours
blow-by1933
1933 Streeter & Lichty Internal Combustion Engines (ed. 4) xv. 432 The oil film is blown out by the high-pressure gases, and blow-by occurs.
1959 N.Y. Times 6 Dec. 67/5 The gasoline vapors, called ‘blowby’ by automotive engineers, are hydrocarbons forced between the cylinder wall and the piston during the compression stroke.
1961 Times 19 Dec. 2/6 A method of making the engine consume its own ‘blowby’ vapours.
blow-down n.
Brit. /ˈbləʊdaʊn/
, /ˈbləʊdaʊn/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌdaʊn/
a gust of wind and smoke down a chimney./ˈbloʊˌdaʊn/ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > products of burning > [noun] > smoke > a puff of > blown down chimney
blow-down1884
flan-
1884 Internat. Health Exhib. Official Catal. 52/1 Chimney Can for curing a blow-down.
blow-off n. /ˈbloʊˌɑf/ (a) the action or operation of ridding a boiler of water or sediment by the force of steam; also attributive; (b) figurative an outburst.
Brit. /ˈbləʊɒf/
, /ˈbləʊɒf/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌɔf/
, /ˈbloʊˌɔf//ˈbloʊˌɑf/ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > [noun] > bursting violently from rest or restraint > instance of
outbreakinga1387
breaking-out1552
outbreak1562
eruption1598
storm1602
out-breach1609
fulmination1623
outflying1641
outburst1657
float1763
overboiling1767
irruption1811
gush1821
outflash1831
outflush1834
shooting forth1837
outbursting1838
blow-off1842
outblaze1843
upburst1843
upthrow1855
upbreak1856
spurt1859
outlash1868
spitfire1886
Brock's benefit1948
1842 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 5 367/2 Blow-off cocks.
1859 W. J. M. Rankine Man. Steam Engine §305 The blow-off apparatus consists, in fresh-water boilers, simply of a large cock at the bottom of the boiler.
a1877 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. I. Blow-off Pipe.
1898 S. M. Fergusson in ‘House’ on Sport I. 174 A blow-off in this wise [i.e. swearing at golf] does one good now and then.
1899 Daily News 9 Mar. 5/3 The blow-off pipes into the sea being broken, the chief engineer..had to let the water run out of the boilers into the hold.
1934 J. M. Cain Postman always rings Twice xiii. 142 What we had the big blow-off over was the beer license.
Categories »
blow-over n.
Brit. /ˈbləʊˌəʊvə/
, /ˈbləʊˌəʊvə/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌoʊvər/
Glass-making the surplus glass forced out of the mould in blowing (E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech., a1877)./ˈbloʊˌoʊvər/ blow-through n.
Brit. /ˈbləʊθruː/
, /ˈbləʊθruː/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌθru/
(a) the process of blowing steam through the cylinder of an engine, etc., to clear it of air; used attributively in blow-through cock, blow valve; (b) defining a jet or lamp for the blowing of oxygen through a flame against lime or magnesium to produce a brilliant light./ˈbloʊˌθru/ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > boiler > [adjective] > apparatus for blowing off steam
blowing-off1863
blow-througha1877
a1877 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. I. Blow-through valve.
1892 Photogr. Ann. II. 231 Blow-through jet.
1906 Westm. Gaz. 24 Nov. 14/2 A blow-through lamp.
blow-up n.
Brit. /ˈbləʊʌp/
, /ˈbləʊʌp/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌəp/
an explosion; figurative a disturbance, a quarrel./ˈbloʊˌəp/ 2. With noun, qualified by blow- (the verb-stem) with the sense of ‘blowing’, or ‘that blows’ or ‘is blown’. Also blowhole n., blowpipe n.
blow-ball n. /ˈbloʊˌbɑl/ the globular seeding head of the dandelion and allied plants; also figurative.
Brit. /ˈbləʊbɔːl/
, /ˈbləʊbɔːl/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌbɔl/
, /ˈbloʊˌbɔl//ˈbloʊˌbɑl/ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants perceived as weeds or harmful plants > weed > [noun] > dandelion > seed-head
blow-ball1578
clock1789
dandelion-clock1876
four o'clock1883
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball v. xvi. 568 Condrilla hath..double flowers; the whiche past, they turne into rounde blowballes, like to fine downe or cotton.
1640 J. Shirley Impostvre iv. ii I'm your blow-ball, Your breath dissolves my being.
a1670 J. Hacket Scrinia Reserata (1693) ii. 90 Shake him from his stalk, like a downy blow-ball.
blow-cock n.
Brit. /ˈbləʊkɒk/
, /ˈbləʊkɒk/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌkɑk/
a cock or tap by which to blow off steam./ˈbloʊˌkɑk/ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > boiler > [noun] > parts of > device for blowing off steam
surface blow1857
blow-cock1885
1885 Standard 28 May 6/3 Joint of blowcock of boiler gave way.
blow-fish n.
Brit. /ˈbləʊfɪʃ/
, /ˈbləʊfɪʃ/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌfɪʃ/
a popular name for any of several fishes which inflate their bodies when stimulated by fear, etc./ˈbloʊˌfɪʃ/ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > fish > superorder Acanthopterygii (spiny fins) > order Perciformes (perches) > family Percidae (perches) > [noun] > genus Stizostedion (pike-perches) > stizostedion vitreum (wall-eye)
pickerel1709
jack salmon1850
wall-eyed pike1869
walleye1888
spike-nose1891
blow-fish1893
1893 I. K. Funk et al. Standard Dict. Eng. Lang. I Blowfish, the wall-eyed pike-perch.
1933 A. Davenport Country Holiday viii. 240 Theer'll be hundreds o' great fish followin' every shoal—blow-fish, porpoise, [etc.].
1934 Bulletin (Sydney) 1 Aug. 21/4 North Australian waters contain..the blowfish... When it is hooked it inflates itself to many times its normal size. Among its aliases are balloon-fish, puffball and windbag.
blow-george n.
Brit. /ˈbləʊdʒɔːdʒ/
, /ˈbləʊdʒɔːdʒ/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌdʒɔrdʒ/
(see quot.)./ˈbloʊˌdʒɔrdʒ/ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > gas > air > fresh air > [noun] > supplying fresh air or ventilation > fan > hand-held or portable > other types of
punkah1663
colmar1727
peacock fan1853
feather-fan1864
blow-george1873
uchiwa1877
1873 Trans. Amer. Inst. Mining Engineers 1871–3 1 303 Ventilated in the driving by a ‘blow george’ (hand-fan).
blow-gun n.
Brit. /ˈbləʊɡʌn/
, /ˈbləʊɡʌn/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌɡən/
= blowpipe n. 2./ˈbloʊˌɡən/ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > device for discharging missiles through tube > [noun] > blow-pipe
trunk1553
sumpitan1634
sarbacane1765
blowpipe1825
sumpit1831
blow-gun1864
blow-tube1871
Indian reed1877
1864 Athenæum No. 1929. 504/2 The blow-gun, thro' which short poisoned arrows are propelled by the breath.
blow job n.
Brit. /ˈbləʊ dʒɒb/
, /ˈbləʊ dʒɒb/U.S. /ˈbloʊ ˌdʒɑb/
slang (originally U.S.) (the act of performing) cunnilingus or fellatio; cf. blow v.1 33./ˈbloʊ ˌdʒɑb/ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > oral sex > [noun] > cunnilingus > act of
gamahuche1865
blow job1961
the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > oral sex > [noun] > fellatio > act of
gamahuche1865
cocksuck1940
suck1941
blow job1961
head job1963
gobble1965
gam1971
headfuck1974
1961 A. Hecht in Hudson Rev. XIV. 371 59 And you can get a blow-job Where other men have pissed.
1969 Oz May 14 No, I don't want a blow job—I'm a girl.
1976 T. Sharpe Wilt iv. 35 ‘You want a blow job, is that it? You want for me to give you a blow job?’ She got off the bed and came towards him.
1986 P. Booth Palm Beach vii. 139 Turning the other cheek was for girls who hadn't had to give blow jobs to tramps in exchange for a few pieces of candy.
blow-lamp n.
Brit. /ˈbləʊlamp/
, /ˈbləʊlamp/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌlæmp/
a lamp designed to give a condensed hot flame, directed by air-pressure or gas on the spot to be heated./ˈbloʊˌlæmp/ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > other specific types of equipment > [noun] > heating or melting instrument
loggerhead1687
blast-lampa1884
blow-lamp1896
blow-torch1909
torch1909
thermal lance1973
1896 J. W. Hart External Plumbing Wk. 259 The tinning can be done best by means of a blow-lamp of some kind.
1909 Westm. Gaz. 27 Apr. 12/4 He was filling a blow lamp with motor spirit when it exploded.
blow-line n.
Brit. /ˈbləʊlʌɪn/
, /ˈbləʊlʌɪn/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌlaɪn/
Angling a fishing line of the lightest floss silk, used with the living fly, so web-like as to allow the wind to blow it out over the stream./ˈbloʊˌlaɪn/ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > fishing-line > [noun] > silk line
blow-line1857
floss line1894
1857 C. Kingsley Two Years Ago I. Introd. p. xxxi Great anglers..who could do many things besides handling a blow-line.
1867 F. Francis Bk. Angling viii. 227 Having baited the hook as in blow-line fishing.
blow-post n.
Brit. /ˈbləʊpəʊst/
, /ˈbləʊpəʊst/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌpoʊst/
a system of conveying letters and parcels by pneumatic tubes./ˈbloʊˌpoʊst/ΘΚΠ
society > communication > correspondence > postal services > [noun] > types of service > conveyance of mail by pneumatic tube
pneumatic dispatch1860
blow-post1881
1881 Daily News 8 Nov. 5/5 A writer..advocates the extension of the ‘blow-post.’
1885 Pall Mall Gaz. 5 Mar. 4/1 In Paris the blow post is being steadily developed.
blow-room n. /ˈbləʊrʊm/, /ˈbloʊˌrʊm/ = blowing-room n. at blowing n.1 Compounds 1.
Brit. /ˈbləʊruːm/
, /ˈbləʊruːm//ˈbləʊrʊm/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌrum/
, /ˈbloʊˌrum//ˈbloʊˌrʊm/ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > treating or processing textile materials > [noun] > separating or cleaning > place for
blowing-room1845
blow-room1908
1908 Daily Chron. 5 Aug. 1/6 The card and blow room hands.
blow-torch n.
Brit. /ˈbləʊtɔːtʃ/
, /ˈbləʊtɔːtʃ/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌtɔrtʃ/
= blow-lamp n./ˈbloʊˌtɔrtʃ/ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > other specific types of equipment > [noun] > heating or melting instrument
loggerhead1687
blast-lampa1884
blow-lamp1896
blow-torch1909
torch1909
thermal lance1973
1909 Cent. Dict. Suppl. Blow-torch.
1921 R. D. Paine Comrades Rolling Ocean xvi. 274 Down to the engine-room went Briscoe and returned with..a blow-torch.
1963 J. Osborne Dental Mech. (ed. 5) xv. 340 The face of the blowtorch nozzle.
blow-tube n. /ˈbləʊtʃuːb/,
Brit. /ˈbləʊtjuːb/
, /ˈbləʊtjuːb//ˈbləʊtʃuːb/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌt(j)ub/
= blowpipe n. 2; also a tube used in glass-blowing./ˈbloʊˌt(j)ub/ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > device for discharging missiles through tube > [noun] > blow-pipe
trunk1553
sumpitan1634
sarbacane1765
blowpipe1825
sumpit1831
blow-gun1864
blow-tube1871
Indian reed1877
1871 E. B. Tylor Primitive Culture i. 60 Nearly the same may be said of the blow-tube.
blow-valve n.
Brit. /ˈbləʊvalv/
, /ˈbləʊvalv/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌvælv/
the snifting valve of a condensing engine./ˈbloʊˌvælv/ blow-well n.
Brit. /ˈbləʊwɛl/
, /ˈbləʊwɛl/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌwɛl/
(see quot.)/ˈbloʊˌwɛl/ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > spring > [noun] > other types
acidulae1670
redwater1712
blow-well1799
sand boil1937
1799 A. Young Gen. View Agric. County Lincoln i. 15 In the parishes of Tetney, Fulstow, and that vicinity, blow-wells, which are deep flowing pits of clear water, which flow in considerable streams.
1854 Notes & Queries 1st Ser. 9 283/1 Natural springs in the northern slope of the Chalk in Lincolnshire..called blow-wells, which may be considered as naturally Artesian.
1924 Kendall & Wroot Geol. Yorks. i. xlvii. 626 On the warp-lands of Holderness and the Humber estuary there bubble up with great vigour a series of springs known as ‘blow-wells’... A ‘blow-well’ is a natural artesian discharge.
3. With noun, which is the object after blow (in the sense of ‘one who blows’).† blow-coal n. figurative Obsolete one who stirs up or promotes strife (cf. blow v.1 17b).† blow-point n. Obsolete a game (see quot. 1801).
blow-bottle n.
Brit. /ˈbləʊˌbɒtl/
, /ˈbləʊˌbɒtl/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌbɑd(ə)l/
a habitual drinker, tippler, sot (cf. blow v.1 31)./ˈbloʊˌbɑd(ə)l/ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > excess in drinking > [noun] > one who drinks to excess > alcoholic or habitual drinker
supper?1529
blow-bowl1530
drunkard1530
drunkera1538
blow-bottle1580
tippler1580
potman1589
red nose1591
sot1592
water rat1593
ply-pot1611
potter1632
pothead1639
pisspot1655
pitcher-man1665
whetter1709
inebriate1794
rummy1843
alcoholic1852
oenomaniac1857
dipsomaniac1858
alcoholizer1880
alcoholist1888
potationist1888
lush1890
rumdum1891
rumhound1895
blacklister1904
dipso1923
rumpot1929
alky1944
juice-head1955
alcohol abuser1965
juicer1967
substance abuser1967
jakey1988
1580 Baret's Aluearie (rev. ed.) A 270 A common haunter of alehouses..an aleknight: a tipler..a blowbottell.
blow-bowl n.
Brit. /ˈbləʊbəʊl/
, /ˈbləʊbəʊl/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌboʊl/
/ˈbloʊˌboʊl/ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > excess in drinking > [noun] > one who drinks to excess > alcoholic or habitual drinker
supper?1529
blow-bowl1530
drunkard1530
drunkera1538
blow-bottle1580
tippler1580
potman1589
red nose1591
sot1592
water rat1593
ply-pot1611
potter1632
pothead1639
pisspot1655
pitcher-man1665
whetter1709
inebriate1794
rummy1843
alcoholic1852
oenomaniac1857
dipsomaniac1858
alcoholizer1880
alcoholist1888
potationist1888
lush1890
rumdum1891
rumhound1895
blacklister1904
dipso1923
rumpot1929
alky1944
juice-head1955
alcohol abuser1965
juicer1967
substance abuser1967
jakey1988
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 199/1 Blowbole, yuroigne.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > harmful mischievousness > harmfully mischievous person > [noun]
disturberc1290
troublera1382
distroublerc1440
disturblerc1440
boutefeu?1584
mischief1586
breed-bate1593
trouble-feast1603
flight-head1605
trouble-rest1605
trouble-house1608
trouble-cupa1610
trouble-state1609
seek-trouble1611
fling-brand1616
trouble-town1619
blow-coal1622
trouble-world1663
mischief-maker1675
fire-sprit1847
firebug1869
ratbag1890
disturbant1894
mixer1938
society > society and the community > dissent > [noun] > causing dissension > one who
sower1380
firebranda1382
barratorc1430
makebate1529
bate-makera1564
mischief-master1567
boutefeu?1584
make-debate1588
breed-bate1593
kindle-fire1595
brew-bate1602
brand1608
fling-brand1616
make-strife1617
mischief-monger1620
blow-coal1622
kindle-coal1630
fire spirit1647
mischief-maker1675
mischief-doer1822
mixer1938
1622 H. Sydenham Serm. (1637) 262 These are..the common blow-coales in Ecclesiastick tumults.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > other specific games > [noun] > others
sitisota1400
papsea1450
half-bowl1477
pluck at the crow1523
white and black1555
running game1581
blow-pointa1586
hot cocklesa1586
one penny1585
cockelty bread1595
pouch1600
venter-point1600
hinch-pinch1603
hardhead1606
poor and rich1621
rowland-hoe1622
hubbub1634
handicap?a1653
owl1653
ostomachy1656
prelledsa1660
quarter-spellsa1660
yert-point1659
bob-her1702
score1710
parson has lost his cloak1712
drop (also throw) (the) handkerchief1754
French Fox1759
goal1765
warpling o' the green1768
start1788
kiss-in-the-ring1801
steal-clothes1809
steal-coat1816
petits paquets1821
bocce1828
graces1831
Jack-in-the-box1836
hot hand1849
sparrow-mumbling1852
Aunt Sally1858
gossip1880
Tambaroora1882
spoof1884
fishpond1892
nim1901
diabolo1906
Kim's game1908
beaver1910
treasure-hunt1913
roll-down1915
rock scissors paper1927
scissors cut paper1927
scissors game1927
the dozens1928
toad in the hole1930
game1932
scissors paper stone1932
Roshambo1936
Marco Polo1938
scavenger hunt1940
skish1940
rock paper scissors1947
to play chicken1949
sounding1962
joning1970
arcade game1978
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1593) ii. sig. V4 Howe shepeheardes spend their daies At blowe point, hotcocles, or els at keeles.
1640 J. Shirley Humorous Courtier v. iii Do not trust the Archduke: he cozened me at blow-point.
1801 J. Strutt Sports & Pastimes iv. iv. 298 Blow-point..[was] probably blowing an arrow through a trunk, at certain numbers by way of lottery.
4. With verb or derivative form.
blow-dry v.
Brit. /ˈbləʊdrʌɪ/
, /ˈbləʊdrʌɪ/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌdraɪ/
(transitive) to style and dry (hair) with a brush or comb and hand-held hairdryer; also as n./ˈbloʊˌdraɪ/ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > beautify (the hair) [verb (transitive)] > dry in a style
blow-dry1966
finger-dry1976
scrunch-dry1985
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > styles of hair > [noun] > other specific styles of hair
roll1538
puff1601
Tuscan-top1602
cock-up1692
turban1727
bird's nest1730
rooter1840
coxcomb1843
roach1872
flop1900
Buster Brown1904
peppercorn1910
upsweep1946
bouffant1955
beehive1960
Prince Valiant1964
blow-dry1966
Mary Stuart1966
bouffy1970
Mohawk haircut1979
Mohican1983
fauxhawk2000
1966 J. Stevens Cox Illustr. Dict. Hairdressing & Wigmaking 21/2 Blow waving, the setting of waves in the hair by means of a comb and a hair dryer with a flattened nozzle by which the wave is shaped and blow-dried into position.
1968 Guardian 7 Oct. 7/1 Gregory will shampoo, cut and blow-dry a man's hair (like a woman's) for roughly £2 2s.
1975 A. Beevor Violent Brink v. 115 They blow dried what was left of his hair.
1977 Oxf. Consumer June 6/2 Prices..varied enormously, from £1.25 to £4.50 for a trim and blow-dry.
blow-drying n.
Brit. /ˈbləʊˌdrʌɪɪŋ/
, /ˈbləʊˌdrʌɪɪŋ/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌdraɪɪŋ/
/ˈbloʊˌdraɪɪŋ/ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > [noun] > drying
blow-drying1977
finger-drying1978
scrunch-drying1986
1977 Cork Examiner 8 June 6/3 Blow-drying is easy, but a little know-how will give much better results.
blow-dried adj.
Brit. /ˈbləʊdrʌɪd/
, /ˈbləʊdrʌɪd/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌdraɪd/
/ˈbloʊˌdraɪd/ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > styles of hair > [adjective] > dried in a style
blow-dried1976
finger-dried1981
1976 Morecambe Guardian 7 Dec. 31/3 Tailored Curl by Wella the body perm for blow dried hair.
1981 W. Safire in N.Y. Times Mag. 29 Mar. 9/1 David A. Stockman,..a blow-dried Grim Reaper.
blow-dryer n.
Brit. /ˈbləʊˌdrʌɪə/
, /ˈbləʊˌdrʌɪə/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌdraɪər/
a kind of hairdryer used in blow-drying./ˈbloʊˌdraɪər/ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > implements used in styling the hair > [noun] > hairdryer
hairdryer1888
dryer1937
hood dryer1962
blow-dryer1977
1977 C. McFadden Serial (1978) xxii. 51/2 I didn't use the blow-dryer.
Draft additions June 2006
blow-back n.
Brit. /ˈbləʊbak/
, /ˈbləʊbak/U.S. /ˈbloʊˌbæk/
figurative (chiefly U.S.) the adverse consequences of a (political) situation or action (in quot. blow- comb. form as part of an extended metaphor)./ˈbloʊˌbæk/ΚΠ
1968 Times 25 Nov. 8/3 It will not help Mr Jenkins much if he tries to explain himself by going into all the relevant intricacies of demand management, and the blowback on sterling from the mark's exhaust.
1988 C. Simpson Blowback i. 5 This impact is what is known in spy jargon as ‘blowback’, meaning unexpected—and negative—effects at home that result from covert operations overseas.
1993 Coloradoan (Fort Collins) 11 July e4/5 The trouble we're having now is blowback off the Afghan War.
2000 Nation (N.Y.) 20 Nov. 22/2 Twenty years after Washington armed the mujahedeen to drive the Soviet Union out of Afghanistan, Russia must now protect the West from the blowback of that policy.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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