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单词 blow
释义
blow1 verbblow2 noun
blowblow1 /bləʊ $ bloʊ/ ●●● S2 W3 verb (past tense blew /bluː/, past participle blown /bləʊn $ bloʊn/) Entry menu
MENU FOR blowblow1 wind moving2 wind moving something3 air from your mouth4 make a noise5 violence6 lose an opportunity7 waste money8 blow your nose9 blow somebody a kiss10 electricity stops11 tyre12 make a shape13 surprise/annoyance14 tell a secret15 blow somebody’s mind16 blow your top/stack/cool17 blow the whistle on somebody18 blow something (up) out of (all) proportion19 blow your own trumpet20 blow somebody/something out of the water21 blow hot and cold22 blow something sky-highPhrasal verbsblow somebody awayblow downblow inblow somebody/something offblow outblow overblow up
Word Origin
WORD ORIGINblow1
Origin:
Old English blawan
Verb Table
VERB TABLE
blow
Simple Form
PresentI, you, we, theyblow
he, she, itblows
PastI, you, he, she, it, we, theyblew
Present perfectI, you, we, theyhave blown
he, she, ithas blown
Past perfectI, you, he, she, it, we, theyhad blown
FutureI, you, he, she, it, we, theywill blow
Future perfectI, you, he, she, it, we, theywill have blown
Continuous Form
PresentIam blowing
he, she, itis blowing
you, we, theyare blowing
PastI, he, she, itwas blowing
you, we, theywere blowing
Present perfectI, you, we, theyhave been blowing
he, she, ithas been blowing
Past perfectI, you, he, she, it, we, theyhad been blowing
FutureI, you, he, she, it, we, theywill be blowing
Future perfectI, you, he, she, it, we, theywill have been blowing
Examples
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
  • Blow on it, Ian - the oatmeal's very hot.
  • A warm breeze was blowing from the south.
  • He blew smoke rings across the table.
  • He won £500,000 in the National Lottery, but he's already blown the lot.
  • I put the balloon to my lips and blew as hard as I could.
  • One of the tires blew and they skidded into the center divider.
  • She blew the feather off her sleeve.
  • The ornaments are made of blown glass.
  • The referee blew his whistle to start the game.
  • The whistle blew on the old steam engine.
  • The wind must have blown the door shut.
  • We blew $3000 on a trip to Barbados.
  • You're lucky you didn't blow out the whole engine.
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
  • He thinks one of the anti-Castro group is going to blow me away.
  • His black hair was tousled, blown by the wind, shining strands of it across his brown forehead.
  • On one of them was Blue Mooney, his pale blond hair blown against his cheek as he skidded around the corner.
  • On the minus side, she'd blown a lot of money and received a couple of scares.
  • She tried to open the door to the storage-room, but twice the wind blew it out of her hands.
  • The scare has been blown out of proportion, said John Marchello, professor of animal science at the University of Arizona.
  • The wind blew so hard the bread got stale in our hands.
  • They know the way that the wind is blowing, and would be only too pleased to be redeployed into another trade.
Thesaurus
THESAURUS
to use money to buy things: · I bought two skirts and a T-shirt and I only spent $50.· How much do you spend a week on food?
(also get through something British English) to spend all of an amount of money over a period of time – used especially when saying that someone spends a lot of money: · I got through all my money in less than a month, and had to get my parents to send me more.
to spend a lot of money in order to do something, because you think it is important or special: · The party was wonderful – they had obviously gone to great expense.· There’s no need to go to great expense.
to waste money on unnecessary things, instead of saving it or using it carefully: · His son had squandered the family fortune on gambling and women.
British English informal to spend a lot of money on something you really want or will enjoy: · Let’s splash out on a bottle of champagne.· People often splash out for Christmas and then regret it later.
informal to spend a lot of money on something, especially on something that you do not really need: · Her husband blew all their savings on a new sports car.
to spend less money: · We’re trying to economize by eating at home instead of going out for meals.
Longman Language Activatorto fill something with air
to fill something with air or gas, for example a tyre or a balloon: blow up something/blow something up: · Come and help me blow up the balloons.· This tyre's really flat - could you blow it up for me?
formal if you inflate something such as a tyre or balloon or it inflates , you fill it with air: · Tyres should always be inflated to the correct pressure.· You can inflate the mattress in 30 seconds, using a foot pump.· Her life jacket failed to inflate.
to fill something with air using a pump (=a machine that forces air into something): pump up something/pump something up: · Your back tire was a little flat so I pumped it up.
to get angry
also get mad American · Mike gets very angry when he loses at tennis.get angry at · You have no right to get mad at me. It's not my fault.
to suddenly become angry, especially after you have been trying not to: · As the argument escalated, Mason lost his temper completely.lose your temper with: · You should never lose your temper with the students - it'll only make things worse.
also go mad British informal to suddenly become very angry: · My father blew his top when I told him I was quitting medical school.· "What happened when you told him you wrecked the car?" "Oh, he hit the roof."· Mom would go crazy if she found out you had started smoking.· I'm going to go nuts if that phone doesn't stop ringing.· When Tommy's new bike was stolen, he had a fit.
also go ape American informal to suddenly become very angry: · If my wife ever finds out about this, she'll go berserk.· Joe went ape when we tried to take the car keys away from him outside the bar.
British informal to start behaving and talking to people in an angry way, especially when other people think this is unreasonable: · She's the sort of boss who gets really stroppy if things aren't done her way.· Mel got a bit stroppy when the maitre d' put us at a table he didn't like.
to make something bigger
to make something bigger - use this especially about increasing numbers or amounts, or about increasing the size of a company or organization: · She intends to expand the company's operations in the US.· The university is planning to expand the number of students to over 20,000.
to make a company or economy bigger and increase the amount of business that it does - used especially in business English: · All this is necessary if we are to grow the business.
to pull cloth, plastic, leather, etc so that it gets bigger and changes its shape: · Stretch the canvas so that it covers the whole frame.
to make something bigger, for example a photograph or an image on a computer. Enlarge is more formal than blow up .: · That's a nice photo, why don't you get it enlarged?· If the opening is too small, you can always enlarge it later.· The new photocopier will enlarge documents by up to 100%.blow something up: · You should blow that picture up and frame it.blow up something: · This section of the print has been blown up so that the enemy's tanks can be clearly seen.
to make an image or detail bigger, especially by using a microscope: · This microscope can magnify an object up to forty times.· The image is magnified by a series of lenses within the telescope.
British to make a building bigger by adding more rooms or more space: · The hotel has been recently renovated and extended.· We're thinking of extending the kitchen.
to boast about something
to talk too proudly about your abilities, achievements, or possessions because you want other people to admire you: boast about: · She's always boasting about how clever her children are.· Scott was boasting about winning the game against Melrose High.boast (that): · Hank was boasting that he could drink a case of beer by himself.
to boast in a way that annoys other people: brag about: · I wish she'd stop bragging about how rich her parents are.brag (that): · Kevin used to brag that he'd had dozens of girlfriends.
British spoken /horn American spoken to talk a lot about your achievements - used especially to say that you do not want to do this: · I don't want to blow my own trumpet, but it was me who came up with the idea for the project in the first place.· Garrison has plenty of reasons to blow his own horn - his company has just shown record profits.
to boast about something you have achieved, especially when other people have been less lucky or successful: crow about/over: · Nordstrom and his supporters are still crowing about winning the lawsuit.· The crowd was crowing over Brazil's easy victory in the match.
to frequently mention the names of famous or important people that you have met or spoken to, to make people think that you know them very well: · "I found the Prince of Wales to actually be quite witty and charming," said Edwina, name-dropping.
to break into a lot of pieces
· One of the mugs rolled off the table and broke into bits on the stone floor.· Investigators are not sure what caused the plane to break into pieces and plunge into the ocean.
if a large object breaks up , it breaks into a lot of pieces especially as a result of natural forces, or serious damage: · The ice breaks up quicker near the shore.· Two of the missiles apparently broke up in flight.· The comet was formed when a planet broke up at some time in the distant past.
British go to pieces American to break into a lot of small pieces, especially because of being weak, old, or badly made: · The book had been read again and again, until it finally fell to pieces.· I picked the bag up, and it went to pieces in my hands.· The trunk was full of old dresses, some of which were falling to pieces.
to break easily into pieces, especially because of being badly made or very old: · I only bought these shoes last week, and they're falling apart already.· His jacket started coming apart at the seams.
if something disintegrates , it breaks into a lot of small pieces so that it is completely destroyed or so that it completely changes its form: · A 50-foot section of the roadway began to disintegrate after only a few cars had passed over it.· The plane disintegrated in midair.· The mummified man's clothes had disintegrated almost completely, but appeared to be mainly of leather and fur.
if something, especially glass, shatters , it breaks suddenly into a lot of very small pieces because it has been dropped or hit: · The glass had shattered, but the photograph itself was undamaged.· Storefront windows shattered and roofs blew off during the hurricane.· Don't try to drive nails into the bricks, they may shatter.
to noisily break into pieces as a result of being dropped or hit: · I heard something smash. What broke?smash to pieces/bits: · The bottle rolled off the table and smashed to pieces on the floor.
if something such as wood splinters , it breaks into thin, sharp pieces: · These types of wood splinter more easily than redwood or cedar.· The coating helps prevent the glass from splintering if it is hit by a rock while you are driving.
to break easily into a powder or into small pieces, especially as a result of being old or dry: · The autumn leaves crumbled in my fingers.· Some of the tiles are crumbling around the edges.
if something such as a tyre or a pipe bursts , the force of the air, water etc inside makes it break into many pieces: · The Concorde disaster was caused by a tyre bursting.· Thousands of gallons of oil flowed into the river when an oil pipeline burst.
especially American if a tyre blows , it breaks open suddenly and all the air comes out of it: · One of the tires blew and they skidded into the center divider.
to send air, smoke etc out of your lungs
to send air out of your lungs, through your nose or mouth: · The doctor told her to breathe out slowly.· Ballet dancers are taught to breathe in before they leap, and to breathe out after they land.
to send air or smoke out of your lungs through your nose or mouth - used especially in medical or technical contexts: · Hold your breath for 5 seconds, then exhale slowly.· She took a long pull on her cigarette, exhaled and coughed loudly.
to breathe out strongly, especially while making a circle with your lips: · I put the balloon to my lips and blew as hard as I could.· He blew smoke rings across the table.blow on/into etc: · "This coffee's too hot to drink.'' "Blow on it -- that'll cool it down.''
to make something stop burning
to make a fire stop burning, or make a cigarette, pipe etc stop burning: put out something: · It took firefighters four hours to put out the blaze.· I put out my cigarette and went back into the house.put something out: · She threw sand on the fire to put it out.
formal to make a fire stop burning, or make a cigarette stop burning - used especially in official notices or statements: · Would all passengers please extinguish their cigarettes? Thank you.· He managed to extinguish the flames with his coat.
to make a flame or fire stop burning by blowing on it: blow out something: · You have to blow out all the candles or your wish won't come true.blow something out: · We tried to light a fire but the wind kept blowing it out.
to cover a fire with something in order to stop it burning: · I grabbed a blanket and tried to smother the flames.
to stop a cigarette from burning by pushing it against something hard: stub out something: · She stubbed out her cigarette on the edge of the table.stub something out: · Don't stub your cigarette out on the floor!
to not use an opportunity
: miss a chance/an opportunity of · Denise never misses the chance of a free meal.miss a chance/an opportunity to do something · Don't miss this great opportunity to fly for half price.· Dan never misses an opportunity to remind me that I still owe him money.miss your chance/opportunity · Jerry's already sold the car to someone else. You've missed your chance.
to not use the chance to do something enjoyable or useful, especially when this is not a good thing: · If you don't come to the picnic you'll miss out on all the fun.· I don't want to be the type of father who is so busy he misses out on his daughter's childhood.
informal to waste a chance that you had to do or get something good: · Don't panic and talk too much in the interview or you'll really blow it.· I was afraid I'd blown my chance but she agreed to go out again on Saturday night.blow your chances of doing something: · She started running much too fast at the beginning and blew her chances of winning the race.
informal to be too late to use an opportunity to do something good: · Buy your shares in the company now or you'll miss the boat.· He didn't get his application in early enough so he missed the boat.
to not use a good opportunity when you are able to, especially an opportunity that you will not get again: · We had an opportunity to win the championship last season and we let it slip through our fingers.
an opportunity that you wasted by not using it to become successful, enjoy yourself etc: · If you don't take the job it'll just be another lost opportunity in your life.
to keep changing your mind
to keep changing your mind about what you believe or what you are going to do, especially when you have two choices and you cannot decide which one is best: · The longer you vacillate the less time you'll have to do anything worthwhile.vacillate between: · The writer seems to vacillate between approving of Collins' actions and finding them disgusting.
someone who is fickle is always changing their mind about the people or things that they like so you cannot depend on them: · She had been a great star once, but the fickle public now ignored her movies.
especially British, informal if someone blows hot and cold about something, they keep changing their attitude so that sometimes they are eager to do it and at other times they are unwilling: · I can't tell what he wants - he keeps blowing hot and cold.· In our dealings with the police we have found that they can blow hot and cold. Sometimes they are keen to have media help in solving a crime, other times they are more reluctant.
to exaggerate something
to say that something is much bigger, better, worse, more important etc than it really is: · "He said you walked 30 miles." "No - he's exaggerating. It was only about 15."· Newspapers tend to exaggerate their influence on the way people vote.· The grass in the garden was about three feet high - I'm not exaggerating.
to say that a situation or event is a lot worse or much more serious than it really is, especially with the result that people become very worried or annoyed: · The whole thing has been blown out of all proportion by the media.· It was just a simple disagreement. Don't blow it up out of all proportion.
to treat something that has happened as though it were more important or serious than it really is: · The press made too much of his stupid remark. He was only joking.· She loved the fact that he'd sent her flowers, but she didn't want to make too much of it in case it meant nothing.
if someone or something is overrated , people say they are much better than they really are: · I think her books are very overrated.· Critics claim that many soccer players are overpaid, overrated and out of touch.
also overemphasise British to say that a part of something is more important than it really is, especially in relation to other things: · The report overemphasizes the role of the teacher. Children also learn from their parents and from each other.· The importance of strict hygiene in the preparation of food cannot be overemphasized.
to describe something in a way that makes it sound more important or serious than it really is, especially in order to persuade people about something: · The company says that the dangers of driving while using cell phones have been overstated.· Politicians typically overstate their case in order to get their point across.
behaving as if a situation is much worse or more serious than it really is, especially with the result that you seem silly: · Oh, don't be so melodramatic! You're not the only one who has ever failed an exam.· She said she'd kill herself if he left her. She's always so melodramatic!
informal to say that your situation is much worse or you feel much more upset than is really true, in order to make someone feel sorry for you: · She really laid it on - saying that her kids would starve if we didn't give you a job.lay it on thick: · Most charities lay it on so thick it's hard to know what the truth is.
to destroy something using a bomb
to destroy a building, car, plane etc using a bomb: · Two of the ships were blown up while they were still in the harbour.· Extremists blew up a mosque on the outskirts of the city.
when a building/plane etc explodes
if a building, car, plane etc blows up , it bursts suddenly and violently into pieces, causing a lot of damage: · The plane blew up in mid-air, killing all the passengers and crew.· In early 1986, a US space shuttle blew up shortly after launch.
if a container of chemicals, oil, or gas explodes , it bursts suddenly and violently into pieces: · Seconds after the car crashed, its fuel tank exploded.· Investigators still don't know what caused the storage tanks to explode.
to stop a fire from burning
to make a fire stop burning: put out the fire/blaze/flames: · It took firefighters four hours to put out the blaze.put something out: · She threw sand on the fire to put it out.
formal to stop a fire burning: · He managed to extinguish the flames with his coat.· It took several hours to extinguish the blaze.
to make a flame or fire stop burning by blowing on it: blow out a candle/match/fire etc: · He blew out the candle and went to sleep.blow something out: · We tried to light a fire but the wind kept blowing it out.
to cover a fire with something in order to stop it from burning: · If the victim's clothes are burning, use a blanket to smother the flames.
to spend money quickly or carelessly
to spend all the money you have on unnecessary things instead of saving it or using it carefully: · In less than three years he had squandered the entire family fortune.· There was no money to pay the rent. They'd already squandered the little that they had.squander on: · Here's £50 but don't just go and squander it on beer!
informal to spend a lot of money on something expensive and enjoyable, especially something that you do not really need: blow £50/$100 etc on something: · We blew $3000 on a trip to Barbados.blow it all/blow the lot British (=spend everything): · He won £500,000 in the National Lottery, but he's already blown the lot.
also get through something British to spend the money that you have more quickly than expected, so that you have nothing left: · I got through all of my money in less than a month and had to get my parents to send me more.go through £100/$2000 etc: · The hotel was really expensive. We went through $3000 in the first week.
informal to spend a lot of money very quickly and carelessly without worrying how much you are spending or how long your money will last: · Richard spends money like there's no tomorrow! Where does he get it all from?· I don't trust myself with a credit card - I spend money like water as it is.
to tell someone in authority about something wrong that someone has done
to tell someone in authority, especially a parent or teacher, about something wrong that someone has done - used by children: · I'm going to tell if you don't stop messing around.· Please don't tell on me -- Mum thinks I've been staying at my friend's house.
also split on somebody British informal to tell someone in authority about something wrong that someone has done, especially when this seems disloyal: · Can you believe he ratted on his own brother?· Don't worry, Robert's reliable. He won't split on us.
British /tattle (on somebody) American if a child tells tales or tattles on someone, they tell a parent or teacher about something another child has done in order to cause trouble: · "Mum, Daniel's broken a plate." "Don't tell tales, dear."· Sarah's teacher told her it was silly to keep tattling on her classmates.· You'll lose all your friends if you keep tattling.
to give information about a crime, an accident etc to the police or to someone in authority: · I'd like to report a theft.report something to somebody: · All accidents must be reported at once to the aviation authority.· Many rape victims are too scared to report the attack to the police.report somebody (for something): · A man has been reported for a number of alleged motoring offences.
to secretly tell the police that someone you know has done something illegal: · Charlotte informed on her brother, who was then arrested for drug-dealing.· He categorically denied that he had ever informed on dissidents.
British informal /squeal American informal to tell the police who is responsible for a crime or illegal activity when this seems disloyal: · When we got there the cops were waiting for us. Somebody must have squealed.grass on: · If the others ever found out he'd squealed on them, they'd kill him.· You grassed on us to save your own life.grass somebody up: · I don't trust her -- what if she grasses us up?
to give the police information about a crime that you know about or are involved in, especially when they are questioning you officially about it: · The suspect was questioned for two hours, but refused to talk.· He said he'd come back and kill me if I talked.
to let people know about an illegal activity which has been happening for a long time, especially when you have been helping to keep it secret: · He was shot because he knew too much and was about to blow the whistle. blow the whistle about: · It was the factory manager who eventually blew the whistle about the pollution scandal.blow the whistle on: · We'd better get her before she has a chance to blow the whistle on us.
to give the police or another authority information that will allow them to prevent a crime taking place: tip off somebody: · Somebody must have tipped off the police. They were already waiting at the house.· The alert was started by another inmate who tipped off prison staff.tip somebody off: · I wonder who tipped them off.tip somebody off that: · His contact had not merely tipped him off that drugs were on the premises, he had told him where to look.
to make public the names of people who have done something wrong: · If you don't give me the money, I'm going to start naming names.· Someone -- I won't name names -- has been caught stealing from the stores.
especially British, informal /narc especially American, informal to secretly tell the police or someone in authority about someone else's criminal activity, especially activities involving illegal drugs: · "How'd they get caught?" "Somebody must've narked."nark on: · If things get too risky, Ken'll probably narc on you to the cops.
WORD SETS
alternator, nounarc, nounblow, verbcapacitor, nouncathode, nouncell, nouncharge, nouncharge, verbcharger, nouncircuit, nouncircuit board, nouncircuit breaker, nouncircuitry, nouncoil, nouncondenser, nounconnection, nouncontact, nouncord, nouncordless, adjectivecurrent, nounDC, dimmer, noundirect current, noundischarge, verbdischarge, nounE, earth, nounearth, verbelectric, adjectiveelectrician, nounelectricity, nounelectrics, nounelectrode, nounelectronic, adjectiveelectronics, nounfuel cell, nounfuse, verbfuse box, nounfused, adjectivegrid, nounlive, adjectivelive wire, nounmagic eye, nounmagneto, nounnegative, adjectiveneutral, adjectivenoise, nounoscillate, verboscillator, nounoutlet, nounphotoelectric, adjectivephotoelectric cell, nounpin, nounplug, nounpoint, nounpre-set, adjectiveprinted circuit, nounprogramme, nounprogramme, verbpulse, nounremote control, nounresistance, nounresistor, nounscan, verbscanner, nounshort, nounshort, verbshort circuit, nounshort-circuit, verbsocket, nounsolid-state, adjectivesonar, nounsuperconductivity, nounsuperconductor, nounterminal, nountime switch, nountoggle switch, nountorch, nountransformer, nountransistor, nounvacuum tube, nounvalve, nounW, wire, nounwiring, nounzapper, noun
Collocations
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
 A cold breeze was blowing hard.
 Outside, the weather was blowing a gale.
 A sudden draught blew the door shut.
 A bomb like that could blow you to bits.
 We’ve blown our chances of getting that contract.
 You’ve got a great future ahead of you. Don’t blow it.
 The kids were blowing bubbles in the backyard.
(=shape glass by blowing into it when it is very hot and soft)
 Blow me down if she didn’t just run off!
 Well, I’m blowed!
(=make known what someone’s real job or name is) It would only take one phone call to blow his cover.
 Guess who’s just blown into town?
 Can you blow up this balloon?
 We’ll blow the tyres up.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
(=very detailed)· Rosemary gave me a blow-by-blow account of their trip.
 full-blown AIDS (=AIDS at its most advanced stage)
 Can you help me blow up these balloons?
(=by a bomb)· A bus shelter nearby was blown to bits.
· The strong breeze blew sand in our faces.
 She was blowing bubbles in her milk with a straw.
· Can you blow out all the candles on your birthday cake?
informal (=have a special opportunity and fail to use it)· He thought he’d blown his chance of happiness.
(=something that damages credibility)· The case was a severe blow to the administration's credibility.
 His death was a cruel blow.
 Failing his final exams was a crushing blow (=made him lose hope and confidence).
 generous leaving allowances to help cushion the blow of redundancy
 His decision to leave the show has delivered a death blow to the series.
 He deflected the blow with his forearm.
(=a devastating action or event)· When a huge car bomb exploded, it was a devastating blow to the peace plan.
 His presidential hopes suffered a fatal blow in New Hampshire.
(=make it melt by putting too much electricity through it)
· It was a grey winter’s day with an Atlantic gale blowing.
British English (=the wind is blowing very strongly)· It was blowing a gale last night.
(=make a noise with your horn)
 He left the gas on and nearly blew us all to kingdom come.
(=to kiss your hand and then blow across it towards someone)· Joe blew her a kiss and waved goodbye.
informal (=to lose the lead)· They managed to blow a 22-point lead.
(=clear your nose by blowing strongly into a piece of soft paper or cloth)· She blew her nose on a large white handkerchief.
also give a raspberry American English She blew a raspberry at him as he drove off.
(=an event that has a very bad effect)· The closure of the mine was a severe blow to the country’s economy.
 The impact of the tax was softened by large tax-free allowances.
(=starts)· That night, a storm blew up.
(=ends)· The storm finally blew itself out.
(=starts)· In 1895 a diplomatic storm blew up between Britain and America over Venezuela.
(=ends)· The president is just hoping that the storm will blow over quickly.
 Paul struck him a blow to the head.
 The scandal seemed to have struck a mortal blow to the government’s chances of re-election.
(=experience a situation or event that causes difficulty or sadness)· The government suffered another blow when a report claimed that standards in education were falling.
 The lifeguard blew his whistle.
· A cold wind was blowing.
· The trees were all swaying in the wind.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
· As three more shots rang out, the push-chair blew apart.· Others had been hit by pieces of trees or bomb fragments and blown apart.· To stop the people going back, their homes are shelled, shot up and blown apart.· Living away from each other, the extended family has been blown apart.· Everyone on the bridge of the Raubvogel ducked as a pane of glass was blown apart.· The old world has been blown apart.· It was in the film to be blown apart.· The ship had clearly been blown apart.
· The glass shattered like an eggshell, and blew away.· Honest, how do they keep themselves from blowing away?· Hundreds of millions of dollars blown away.· But my doubts have been blown away.· Amongst other things, it threatened to blow away the career of Michael Banks.· Remaining stacks were blown away with tank fire.· Beatlemania had arrived, and everywhere a gale of self-induced collective hysteria blew away the leaves of fuddy-duddy Britain.· And again the Brit blew away the Yank.
· We planted it 12 years ago, to replace one blown down in the previous storms.· Over the valley, a full moon was rising, and a chill wind was blowing down from the distant mountains.· So ferocious was the wind that the trees blew down and blocked the roads and railways.· Trees were uprooted, tents blown down, the bridges over the Chickahominy nearly swept away, and the very earth flooded.· The experiment had to be abandoned however as drenching rain was continuous and the tent was blown down.· The flame of the wick was blown down to touch the paraffin in the body of the lamp.· And she blew down a kiss.· Yellowed newspaper pages blew down its streets in the monsoon wind.
· And the wind blew hard on the tower and me.· Strong winds late Sunday blew hard south, sending the acrid smell of a campfire through much of Phoenix.· There was no wind, of course, but the ladies blew hard to move my boat along.· When we reached our house, the wind was blowing hard in our faces.
· Or was it the east wind blowing in through the open bell tower with renewed force?· Out to a distance of seventy-five kilometers, windows are blown in and shards of glass are accelerated to high speeds.· There is Miss Malcolm blown in late again.· Claudia opened her window and let the wind blow in on her face.· A draught of cold air blew in.· The first snowstorm blew in from the north, and crows crossed the sky before it like thrown black socks.
· The door on the left was blown off its hinges by strategically placed charges that slammed it flat on to the floor.· He was distracted by what sounded like the roof blowing off.· Just then her hat blew off into the road and d'Urberville stopped the horse.· At this point, you will let out a scream suggesting that some one has just blown off your toe with a. 45.· Early that January a bitter wind blowing off the far Urals seized East Anglia in a grip of ice.· She just needed to blow off steam.· Four people were injured, including a man whose legs were blown off.· Winds up here reach 80 miles an hour; the tin, the roofs, they blow off every now and then.
· He had the car heater on and the whirring as it blew out hot air was beginning to annoy him.· On November 13, 1932, four tremendous explosions blew out the entrances and exits of the two Arizona tunnels.· The novelty was in the clean and smiling way he said them, blowing out gray smoke rings at the same time.· The scare has been blown out of proportion, said John Marchello, professor of animal science at the University of Arizona.· Myles blew out the lamp and placed it on the sideboard.· He cupped his hand over his thing as if it were a flame that might blow out.· He then shuffled around the room cupping his hand around the chimneys and blowing out one lamp after another.· The blast wave is much too weak when it reaches sea level to blow out the flames.
· The wind is blowing, blowing over the grass.· Carter was merely stunned by the reaction from the East; he was blown over backward by the reaction from the West.· This meant that the gliders were then parked the wrong way and, being light, they often blew over.· That way, nothing will blow over while you are preparing for the next step: installing the joists.· If a glider was blown over with some one sitting inside it unstrapped, that person could be killed.· The forgery scare had blown over, actually.· He blew over his cocoa and gave Sammy some of the skin, feeling rather important at doing so.· Days of fear and trembling until it blew over.
· Anwar blew up all over the place.· That same agent blew up the room I had been in because I was getting too close.· He blew up five city blocks, of course.· Urban violence and civil unrest were mushrooming like small bombs threatening to blow up the machine from within.· On June 8, 1910, Post was back to blow up 171 2-pound charges at three-minute intervals.· It has been blown up by the Arabs.· What did it take to make Paul blow up?
NOUN
· You look like you have blown up like a balloon and you feel that you are a complete dieting failure.· Tell the students to blow up the balloon and then tape the straw to the balloon.· Work quickly or keep the cutting material in a plastic bag blown up like a balloon and sealed.· But there are two ways of blowing up a balloon.· There was a game where you blew up balloons and sat on them.· The first players then have to blow the balloons back for the second person to take over.
· The bullet took him right between the eyes, blowing his brains out through the back of his head.· In a few years you will blow your brains out, a bankrupt.· There was a mercury pool for losers to reflect in while they blew their brains out.· At that range she knew the gun would blow out her brains.· Reading my dreams felt like a cool breeze blowing through my brain.· Hunting rabbits with hawks is surely better than blowing their brains out with shotguns.· The accused said that he would blow the victim's brains out if he was not quiet.· No wonder the scribblers on the hustings have so much stale garbage blowing around their brains.
· The next day was bright and cold, with a stiff breeze blowing straight down the field.· Uncertain which way to go, Benny gradually became aware of a gentle breeze blowing from the right.· It was winter at last and a cool breeze blew at night.· When she pushes it open, and switches on the light, she finds the breeze blowing through broken windows.· A gentle breeze blew through the windows, lightly rustling the curtains.· A thin, bad-tempered breeze blew sand into our faces and whipped up under my skirt.· A breeze blows through the palms below, rustling their branches, so they whisper like voices.
· That is why you can blow bubbles with soapy water.· She would watch the ball, shading her eyes, and blow a pink bubble.· Felt Hat blows a bubble with her gum.· Bunny or not, he still could not blow bubbles with it.· It will be all downhill after the guests blow bubbles or light sparklers as you leave the church.
· When we left they blew out all the candles and remained in the dark tombs.· Then blindfold them and invite them to take four steps backwards followed by four forward before trying to blow out the candle.· Then, picking up his tomahawk, he blows out the candle and springs into bed.· They gathered the flowers that had been left as offerings, they blew the floating candles out.· Mike blew his candle out, and I did the same.· With a sigh, Connor shut the door and bolted it, then blew out the candle and went upstairs.· He blew our the candle and locked the door.
· Oxford blew their chance to stake a claim in the promotion race.· The Astros were 9-20 without him last August to blow their wild-card chances.· Middlesbrough have blown their championship chance with two defeats in four days.· He had already blown his chances and perhaps that was why he played a relaxed stroke.· Before he'd blown his chance of happiness for ever.
· Bad weather can force an emergency landing or strong winds can blow them off course.· All the old fusty stuff had to be blown away, of course, so we might be nearer to nature.· A huge gust of energy blew him back on course.
· Last week the Prime Ministerwent to Devon and blew its cover.· They blew their cover story almost immediately.· It would only take one phone call to blow her cover.· But they have blown their cover.· All the press had to do was to interview any one of the islanders to blow the government cover story wide open.· But if you were arrested for murder they would have to be very careful not to blow their cover.· One mistake could blow his cover and ruin years of careful work in the North.· They want to use a customised version to help their overseas operatives communicate home and browse without blowing their cover.
· Some one should dig it out from the carpet under which it was brushed and blow the dust off it.· The wind began to blow, grass and dust whipping ahead of them as though fleeing the black cloud.· Kobborg and Cojocaru blow away the dust.· The crowd thinning around them, the wind that blew dust and papers past could not interrupt their looking at each other.· The hot wind blows a storm of dust and leaves, and the women retreat into their houses.· Between the moon and my see-through roof a purple storm was blowing the dust of some previous war into the waste spaces.· The clay dries and cracks in the sun, and the top layers are blown off as dust.· Otherwise blow out dust from the keyboard and clean keyboard casing. 5.
· Damian Flint does everything he possibly can to make me blow twenty-five fuses at once!· Ken ran to Maurine and Hayes's house, and Hayes rushed into our basement and replaced a blown fuse.· I've even known him switch on a light without blowing all the fuses.
· What would the position be if there was an exceptionally strong gale blowing at the time of the original road accident?· When the autumn gales blew you could see the smoke being sucked out through the wall like water out of a leaky bucket.· A gale may otherwise blow the whole fence over.· She saved an old apple tree which the gale of 1987 had blown horizontal, but which sprouted again in the spring.· His present place was shaky - a violent gale had just blown in the window panes and the frame was flapping loose.
· The chocolates made her melt, sticky, gooey, and desire made her harden, glass blown by fire.· The craft of glass blowing is vital to science, especially when researchers design experiments for which no containers are available.· Everyone on the bridge of the Raubvogel ducked as a pane of glass was blown apart.· After the glass is blown into the general shape, it is inspected.· For contrast we went to the glass blowing factory for a demonstration of their skills.· What collectors refer to as historical flasks are glass bottles blown into metal molds between about 1815 and 1870.· They don't wash the glasses there; they blow on them.· At Jalame crucibles must have been necessary to allow the gathering of glass on a blowing iron.
· Other angry motorists blew their horns and flashed rude two-finger salutes when they finally managed to overtake him.· Then all three of the traders laughed together and sounded like a fleet of tugboats blowing their horns.· As she turned uphill, a dark-red Daimler slid by, and blew its horn at her.· When you blow the horn, it sounds blaring.· Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn.· We climbed up on to it; some one blew a horn and the beat started.· Nanny hoisted her higher in her arms as the huntsman blew his horn and the hounds moved off.
· She blew a kiss to Tunney, and scampered up a wall like a spider.· She blew him little kisses, and he felt love and pangs of something that frightened him.· And she blew down a kiss.· I wanted to blow her a kiss but there was nothing in me to send her way.· Dinah was at the near window, saw him, and blew a kiss.· Leyland blew kisses to his family behind the dugout.· He gave them a huge grin and blew them a kiss.· For him to blow a kiss to the gallery was one thing.
· I sat down at the keyboard blowing my mind with Puccini.· But then he blows his mind anyway.· Even the pop posters were old, they blew my mind with boredom.· One species, the ravens, already blows my mind.· It is the catastrophic slippage in public respect which blows the minds of the apparatus.· He estimated there were 100,000 of them, enough to blow the mind of an entire town.
· She blew her nose as daintily as was possible in the circumstances and handed the handkerchief back with a wan smile.· Jozia blew her red nose into her kerchief.· With great discretion, the overcoats in the front pews blew their noses.· For a moment Converse thought that she would blow her nose on him.· He took his handkerchief from his pocket and blew his nose.· Upstairs, Petey blew his nose and sipped water after finally giving up his dinner and feeling like he could walk again.· Simpson grimaced, and blew his nose again.
· Female speaker I think it's been blown up out of all proportion.· Athletes are a mirror of society, even if sometimes their images are blown out of proportion.· The whole thing, of course, is being blown up out of all proportion by the Western media.· Likewise, the scare associated with the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island was blown out of proportion.· Things get blown out of proportion.· He thought the whole incident had been blown up out of proportion.· The issue was blown far out of proportion.
· As I watched it soar over the crossbar,.Jamir stuck his tongue out in ridicule and blew a raspberry.· I blew a raspberry, he blew two.
· He remembered how innocently they had discussed which natives they would blow to smithereens and which they would grant a reprieve to.
· By the end of the evening she was puffing her cigarette and blowing the smoke at Miss Poole in the darkness.· She's lying on the bed, blowing smoke at the ceiling.· Winnie whips out a stogie and starts puffing away, blowing smoke over to your table.· One or two chimneys blew smoke at the edge of the scheme.· People had been blowing cigarette smoke on to them for years.· Kersey blew smoke rings and watched them with approval.· He gnawed at his thick lower lip or blew smoke in my direction.
· On both of the previous occasions, the area was evacuated and isolated until the storm blew itself apart.· The storm had blown itself out, leaving the sky pearly.· Ahab stands and fights fiercely against the storm which blows him away from his course.· Between the moon and my see-through roof a purple storm was blowing the dust of some previous war into the waste spaces.· The morning of the third day, they woke up and saw the storm had blown itself out.· She could do nothing but batten down the conversational hatches and wait until the storm blew itself out.· As he rounded the tip of Cape Horn, a storm blew up from the west.
· Whether the Ipswich directors who watched him blow his top with the unwitting journalist believe that is debatable.· Lit came on the east stage and blew the top off Woodstock.· The wind was blowing over the top of Jinny's head, fluttering the loose, short hairs round her forehead.· By blowing over the top of the paper, you made the air above the slow moving air strip move faster.· It was unusual for Hauser to blow his top.· Then suddenly he blew his top while walking down the street one day.· It had me rolling on the floor to see Schmeichel blowing his top at the scum defence.· Then Nature blows her top, just to remind us.
· Most were reluctant, defensive, or simply hesitant to blow their own trumpet.· Gordy started blowing on the trumpet in rhythm with her cries.· For too long we Christians have heard the modern world blowing its own trumpet.· Tonight, he could have shouted through the streets, blown a trumpet, waved a banner.· Despite a unique record of achievement is recent years, he can never be accused of blowing his own trumpet.· They are blowing trumpets singing up a storm and waving as they walk past us.· The heraldry of day-to-day: a cat couchant on bricks; a baby in a push-chair blowing a trumpet very loudly.· An angel hovered over their heads, blowing a yellow trumpet.
· But we could get blown out of the water....· Steady offshore winds keep blowing the water westward where it becomes heated.· It was as if his confidence, like a target decoy, had been blown clean out of the water.· Cassius heard the fisherman blow the water from his snorkel.· Again, if there had been a Thatcherite on the programme, the Labour expert would have been blown out of the water.· Wind whipping across sandbar on opposite shore, sand blowing across water.· That is why you can blow bubbles with soapy water.
· Such whistles were blown only during war to offer the warrior supernatural protection.· All I could do was frantically reach for my safety whistle and blow like crazy to alert the raft crew.· Just before the whistle blew Vernon thought she had seen him; at any rate she was looking in his direction.· A shrill whistle is blown angrily by a shivering soldier, a sentry at the tomb.· The whistle would blow and Aunt Dorothy would wave goodbye.· Suddenly, all over Illinois, train whistles began blowing in the middle of the night.· I blew my whistle till I blew the pea out of it.
· The wind was blowing over the top of Jinny's head, fluttering the loose, short hairs round her forehead.· It was so much dust, and the slightest wind would blow it away.· The wind is blowing, blowing over the grass.· The wind blew strongly into the room.· It would take some wind to blow me off.· It represented a change of style, and this new wind threatened to blow away all that was dated and traditional.· First high winds blow Stu Miller off the mound, forcing a balk, at Candlestick Park.
Phrases
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
  • Blow Grandma a kiss, Katie.
  • And she blew down a kiss.
  • Dinah was at the near window, saw him, and blew a kiss.
  • For him to blow a kiss to the gallery was one thing.
  • He gave them a huge grin and blew them a kiss.
  • I wanted to blow her a kiss but there was nothing in me to send her way.
  • Joe blew her a kiss and set off again.
  • She blew a kiss to Tunney, and scampered up a wall like a spider.
  • She blew him little kisses, and he felt love and pangs of something that frightened him.
► blow/blow me/blow it etc► blow somebody’s mind
  • My father blew his top when I told him I was quitting medical school.
  • I used to get so angry on the set that one day I just blew my top and hit John Huston.
  • It had me rolling on the floor to see Schmeichel blowing his top at the scum defence.
  • It was unusual for Hauser to blow his top.
  • Striker Slaven blew his top after being axed from the side which grabbed a draw at Bristol City in midweek.
  • Then Nature blows her top, just to remind us.
  • Then suddenly he blew his top while walking down the street one day.
  • Tristan last blew its stack in 1961, forcing a complete evacuation.
  • Whether the Ipswich directors who watched him blow his top with the unwitting journalist believe that is debatable.
  • A few honest policemen were willing to blow the whistle on the captain.
  • Anyone who tried to blow the whistle on the violence was intimidated or threatened.
  • He claims the two are separate enough that he was in the clear to blow the whistle on the Rialto Theater project.
  • Not withstanding that risk, under the Constitution, the judiciary is in the best position to blow the whistle on runaway majorities.
  • So, why not blow the whistle on a thoroughly corrupt system sooner?
  • Staff members have little interest in blowing the whistle on this situation.
  • The report will question why medical staff working with him did not blow the whistle on his activities.
  • There were even rebelliously honest policemen, who might blow the whistle on the dishonest ones.
  • With great courage, Vasseur has blown the whistle on an unacceptable situation.
  • This case has been blown totally out of proportion because of the media attention.
  • The issue was blown far out of proportion.
  • I don't want to blow my own trumpet, but it was me who came up with the idea for the project in the first place.
  • But he could also blow his own trumpet like Satchmo on pay per note.
  • Despite a unique record of achievement is recent years, he can never be accused of blowing his own trumpet.
  • For too long we Christians have heard the modern world blowing its own trumpet.
  • I don't like to blow my own trumpet but My Better Half could eat it to a band playing.
  • Most were reluctant, defensive, or simply hesitant to blow their own trumpet.
  • Borland has plenty of reason to blow his own horn - his company has just shown record profits.
  • By then the Motown label had blown all the other record companies out of the water.
  • I can't tell what he wants - he keeps blowing hot and cold.
  • In our dealings with the police we have found that they can blow hot and cold. Sometimes they are keen to have media help in solving a crime, other times they are more reluctant.
  • Some of these young officers blow hot and cold.
► blow something sky-high
  • Her book has blown the lid off the Reagan years.
  • You gave instructions that I would be the one to blow the lid off.
  • Depressed, he blows his head off.
  • He held a loaded air pistol to her stepfather's neck and threatened to blow his head off.
  • If I ever get you alone, I am going to blow your head off.
  • It would come in a box and it would blow your head off.
  • She also told the court that he'd heard he'd threatened to blow his head off.
  • Then he saw himself tripping over the gun and blowing his head off.
  • I went jogging to blow off some steam.
  • Jody lets her blow off steam first.
  • She just needed to blow off steam.
  • You got upset, blew off steam.
  • Governments were paralysed, hoping the storm would blow itself out without affecting their friends and families and favourite projects.
  • Next morning dawns bright and clear; the storm has blown itself out in the night.
  • She could do nothing but batten down the conversational hatches and wait until the storm blew itself out.
  • The morning of the third day, they woke up and saw the storm had blown itself out.
  • The storm had blown itself out, leaving the sky pearly.
  • The storm had blown itself out, there was only steady drizzle.
  • They had waited for the Darkfall to blow itself out, which it did in spectacular fashion.
  • This storm was not going to blow itself out in an hour - not even for him.
  • Hunting rabbits with hawks is surely better than blowing their brains out with shotguns.
  • In a few years you will blow your brains out, a bankrupt.
  • The bullet took him right between the eyes, blowing his brains out through the back of his head.
  • There was a mercury pool for losers to reflect in while they blew their brains out.
► blow somebody ↔ out► blow somebody ↔ out► blow something ↔ up► blow something ↔ up
  • It was kind of funny watching the presentation blow up in Harry's face.
  • Kristin knew that if anyone found out, the whole thing could blow up in her face.
  • Auditors some-times miss big potential problems that blow up in the face of bondholders.
  • But I also fear that this encryption stuff is so powerful it could blow up in my face.
  • Having opted for a formation that he thought would beat Leicester, David O Leary saw it blow up in his face.
  • Liable blow up in their faces.
  • Not only could be, but would be, and the whole thing would blow up in my face.
  • Nothing of its kind had ever been done before, and it could have blown up in his face.
  • When the clothes iron blows up in your face.
  • Here's a Kleenex - blow your nose.
  • Either way, if you blow your nose, you may well miss it altogether.
  • For a moment Converse thought that she would blow her nose on him.
  • I had a terrible cold and spent much of the time blowing my nose.
  • She blew her nose as daintily as was possible in the circumstances and handed the handkerchief back with a wan smile.
  • She took out a handkerchief and pressed it against her eyes, then blew her nose.
  • Stu was worried that he was responsible for me needing Kleenex, blowing my nose.
  • With great discretion, the overcoats in the front pews blew their noses.
  • With soil-caked fingers he drew a handkerchief from a pocket and blew his nose.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a blow-by-blow account/description etc
  • It will blow the cobwebs away.
  • Talk about blowing the cobwebs away!
  • And this might come as a surprise to our brethren in the popular national press - Thirty-eight.
  • Buller's Hill House came as a surprise.
  • Her answer came as a surprise.
  • It comes as a surprise to find him boasting of his prowess as a rioter.
  • Nevertheless, he said the sharp drop in the book-to-bill came as a surprise.
  • Nor should it come as a surprise that these rules frequently get S corporation owners into trouble.
  • So it comes as a surprise to discover that this is not always the case.
  • This should not come as a surprise to people who are free.
  • But it will deal a blow to the agreement, which allows publishers to set a minimum price for most books.
  • His stance was apologetic, almost cringing as if he expected to be dealt a blow.
  • It also dealt a blow to his testimonial, which nevertheless realised more than £2000.
  • Very many died without ever a chance of dealing a blow in return.
  • They rolled over and over on the damp moss, exchanging blows and vile words until finally Topaz's strength ran out.
  • Two figures were battling furiously, exchanging blows as they materialized.
  • While the men exchanged blows the girl struck Farini from behind with a blunt instrument.
  • The next morning we found the aircraft had blown a gasket.
  • They've got her started and she's blown a gasket.
  • We had blown a gasket and told them of our problem, but we did not declare an emergency.
  • As Pegasus fought clear, I smelled smoke and felt a glancing blow which whirled me backwards and away.
  • Gorbad bellowed in agony and swung Morgor wildly, catching Adolphus a glancing blow across the temple.
  • He was standing on a piling at the ferry slip in Brooklyn when the ferry hit it a glancing blow.
  • It leapt forward as Delaney cried out and struck it a glancing blow with the torch.
  • Police believe Tony was struck a glancing blow by the wing mirror of a transit-type van.
  • Tom struck his head a glancing blow, and blood came.
  • Granny's thoughts had the strength of hammer blows and they'd pounded her personality into the walls.
  • It brought another hammer blow to Britain's depressed farming industry.
  • It was followed by a hammer blow that echoed like thunder through the steel hulk.
  • Labour's energy spokesman says the decision is bad news for the consumer and a hammer blow for the coal industry.
  • She glanced at her own reflection in the mirror and the answer came with the suddenness of a hammer blow.
  • Such speeds are far faster than any hammer blow and considerably faster than the flight of bullets.
  • The sight was a hammer blow to Yuri Rudakov.
  • The tunnels were quiet during the hammer blow of 1972.
  • Paula was going hot and cold by now.
  • She went hot and cold, dizzy with confusion.
  • Some of these young officers blow hot and cold.
► it’s an ill wind (that blows nobody any good)
  • And then, as if to deliver the knockout blow to his scheme, the phone rang.
  • But the new West Indies proved encouragingly resilient, repeatedly getting up off the canvas to deliver the final knockout punch.
  • Great passing; good running, but they lacked a knockout punch.
  • He may not have a knockout punch, but he does have good moves all the way to the bell.
  • If people will use the vaccine available, it is possible to give paralytic polio a knockout blow within the next year.
  • It was a knockout punch of which Indurain, Hinault or Merckx would have been proud.
  • That seven eighty-one was like a knockout punch.
  • The business was reeling from what appeared to have been the knockout punch.
  • Flaws' Nigel's style includes getting caught with punches in order to land punches.
  • He shot out his right arm and landed a punch on Lorrimer's nose.
  • Sharpe hacked again, this time landing a blow on the back of the helmet.
  • The first tried to land a punch, but he missed.
  • This time, he hardly landed a blow as the majestic Christie cruised home.
► blow/sod/bugger etc that for a lark
  • As she reads or hears the news reports of battles, she can ascertain whether he is in mortal danger.
  • Hellenism no longer represented a mortal danger.
  • His dragon had taken a mortal wound as he and Caledor clashed on the battlefield.
  • Railroad traffic is a mortal danger.
  • This rust-blood pouring from mortal wounds in the planet's skin is a terrible indictment of the tyranny we climbers inflict.
  • Yesterday, the joint shop stewards committee of Corporate Jets said a loss of production would be a mortal blow.
► rain (down) blows/blows rain down
  • Agnes went to pick her up and received a blow from an elbow that sent her across the room.
  • As they straighten, curve the spine and pull in the tummy, as if you have just received a blow.
  • Ben stood transfixed with disbelief, his mouth open, as if he had received a blow across it.
  • For his outspokenness, he received a blow to the skull which sent him reeling.
  • He went down to protest and himself began to receive blows.
  • His adventure began during a practice game against the Minnesota Vikings when he received a blow to the head.
  • It was almost as if I had received a blow to the heart.
  • Wilson received an injury in the third minute, but that didn't hamper his stand on the game.
► ride a punch/blow► blow something sky-high
  • He says an overweight lorry in a crash will smash a car to smithereens.
  • And yet the correlations just knock my socks off..
  • So, he popped down to my office, stuck this demo on the turntable and it just blew my socks off.
  • The current crop of non-Windows databases can knock the socks off their predecessors.
  • This in-your-face marketing could be forgiven if the food absolutely knocked your socks off.
  • Recess is a good chance for kids to blow off steam.
  • It was recreation hour, explained Brother Andrew with a smile, and the Brothers were letting off steam.
  • Jody lets her blow off steam first.
  • Others have behavioural problems and need to let off steam in a safe and controlled setting.
  • She just needed to blow off steam.
  • So kicking the cat, biting a towel or pounding a pillow aren't really much use, except for letting off steam.
  • We let off steam in graffiti, vandalism and football hooliganism.
  • You got upset, blew off steam.
  • You want to let off steam?
  • Little Bill in drag strikes a blow for the downtrodden girls.
  • Some one ought to strike a blow for women and show this vain man that he was utterly resistible!
  • They were certainly striking a blow for short people.
  • He was more than prepared to trade blows with the former circus act Benichou.
  • The two camps traded insults, moans and jeers, threatening occasionally to turn the proceedings into an intramural debate.
► see which way the wind is blowing
1wind moving [intransitive, transitive] if the wind or a current of air blows, it moves:  A cold breeze was blowing hard. It was blowing from an easterly direction. Outside, the weather was blowing a gale.2wind moving something [intransitive, transitive usually + adverb/preposition] to move, or to move something, by the force of the wind or a current of air:  Her hair was blowing in the breeze. The wind blew the rain into our faces. My ticket blew away.blow (something) open/shut A sudden draught blew the door shut.3air from your mouth [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] to send air out from your mouthblow (something) into/onto/out etc She blew onto her coffee to cool it down. He blew the smoke right in my face.4make a noise [intransitive, transitive] to make a sound by passing air through a whistle, horn etc:  The whistle blew for half time. A truck went by and blew its horn at her.5violence [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to damage or destroy something violently with an explosion or by shootingblow something away/out/off something Part of his leg had been blown off.blow somebody/something to pieces/bits/smithereens A bomb like that could blow you to bits.6lose an opportunity [transitive] informal to lose a good opportunity by making a mistake or by being careless:  We’ve blown our chances of getting that contract. You’ve got a great future ahead of you. Don’t blow it.7waste money [transitive] informal to spend a lot of money in a careless way, especially on one thing:  I blew all the money I won on a trip to Hawaii.► see thesaurus at spend8blow your nose to clean your nose by forcing air through it into a cloth or a piece of soft paper9blow somebody a kiss to kiss your hand and then pretend to blow the kiss towards someone:  She leant out of the window and blew him a kiss.10electricity stops [intransitive, transitive] if an electrical fuse blows, or a piece of electrical equipment blows a fuse, the electricity suddenly stops working because a thin wire has melted:  The floodlights blew a fuse.11tyre [intransitive, transitive] if a tyre blows, or if a car blows a tyre, it bursts12make a shape [transitive] to make or shape something by sending air out from your mouth:  The kids were blowing bubbles in the backyard.blow glass (=shape glass by blowing into it when it is very hot and soft)13surprise/annoyance blow/blow me/blow it etc British English spoken said to show annoyance or surprise:  Blow it! I forgot to phone Jane. Blow me down if she didn’t just run off! Well, I’m blowed!14tell a secret [transitive] to make known something that was meant to be a secret:  Your coming here has blown the whole operation.blow somebody’s cover (=make known what someone’s real job or name is) It would only take one phone call to blow his cover.15blow somebody’s mind spoken to make you feel very surprised and excited by something:  Seeing her again really blew my mind. → mind-blowing16blow your top/stack/cool (also blow a fuse/gasket) informal to become extremely angry quickly or suddenly:  One day, I just blew my top and hit him.17blow the whistle on somebody informal to tell someone in authority about something wrong that someone is doing:  He blew the whistle on his colleagues. → whistle-blower18blow something (up) out of (all) proportion to make something seem much more serious or important than it is19blow your own trumpet especially BrE, blow your own horn American English informal to talk a lot about your own achievements – used to show disapproval:  Dave spent the whole evening blowing his own trumpet.20blow somebody/something out of the water to defeat someone or something that you are competing with, or to achieve much more than they do:  Motown had blown all the other record companies out of the water.21blow hot and cold British English informal to keep changing your attitude towards someone or something22blow something sky-high British English to destroy an idea, plan etc by showing that it cannot be true or effective:  This new information blows his theory sky-high.GRAMMARBlow belongs to a group of verbs where the same noun can be the subject of the verb or its object.• You can say: · Someone blew a whistle. In this sentence, ‘a whistle’ is the object of blow.• You can also say: · A whistle blew. In this sentence, ‘a whistle’ is the subject of blow.Grammar guide ‒ VERBSblow somebody↔ away phrasal verb especially American English informal1to make someone feel very surprised, especially about something they like or admire:  It just blows me away, the way everyone’s so friendly round here.2to kill someone by shooting them with a gun3to defeat someone completely, especially in a game:  Nancy blew away the rest of the skaters.blow down phrasal verb if the wind blows something down, or if something blows down, the wind makes it fall:  The garden gate has blown down.blow something ↔ down Several trees were blown down in the night.blow in phrasal verb1 (also blow into something) informal to arrive in a place, especially suddenly:  Jim blew in about an hour ago. Guess who’s just blown into town?2if a storm or bad weather blows in, it arrives and begins to affect a particular area:  The first snowstorm blew in from the north.blow somebody/something ↔ off phrasal verb American English informal1to treat someone or something as unimportant, for example by not meeting someone or not going to an event:  Bud got into trouble for blowing off the meeting.2blow the lid off something to make known something that was secret, especially something involving important or famous people:  Her book blew the lid off the Reagan years.3blow somebody’s head off to kill someone by shooting them in the head4blow off steam American English to get rid of anger or energy by doing something SYN let off steam British English:  I went jogging to blow off some steam.blow out phrasal verb1if you blow a flame or a fire out, or if it blows out, it stops burning:  The match blew out in the wind.blow something ↔ out Blow out all the candles.2if a tyre blows out, it bursts3blow itself out if a storm blows itself out, it ends4blow your/somebody’s brains out to kill yourself, or someone else, with a shot to the head5 blow somebody ↔ out American English spoken to easily defeat someone:  We blew them out 28–0.6American English if you blow out your knee or another joint in your body, or if it blows out, you injure it badly7if an oil or gas well blows out, oil or gas suddenly escapes from it8blow somebody ↔ out to stop having a friendship or relationship with someoneblow over phrasal verb1if the wind blows something over, or if something blows over, the wind makes it fall:  Our fence blew over in the storm.blow something ↔ over The hurricane blew many trees over.2if an argument or unpleasant situation blows over, it ends or is forgotten:  They weren’t speaking to each other, but I think it’s blown over now.3if a storm blows over, it goes awayblow up phrasal verb1to destroy something, or to be destroyed, by an explosion:  The plane blew up in midair.blow something ↔ up Rebels attempted to blow up the bridge.2 blow something ↔ up to fill something with air or gas:  Can you blow up this balloon? We’ll blow the tyres up.3if a situation, argument etc blows up, it suddenly becomes important or dangerous:  A crisis had blown up over the peace talks.4 blow something ↔ up if you blow up a photograph, you make it larger SYN  enlarge5 informal to become very angry with someone:  Jenny’s father blew up when she didn’t come home last night.blow up at I was surprised at the way he blew up at Hardy.6if bad weather blows up, it suddenly arrives:  It looks as if there’s a storm blowing up.7blow up in somebody’s face if something you have done or planned to do blows up in your face, it suddenly goes wrong:  One of his deals had just blown up in his face.
blow1 verbblow2 noun
blowblow2 ●●○ S3 W3 noun [countable] Entry menu
MENU FOR blowblow1 BAD EFFECT2 hard hit3 blowing4 come to blows (with somebody)5 soften/cushion the blow6 low blow
Word Origin
WORD ORIGINblow2
Origin:
1-2, 4-6 1400-1500 Origin unknown. 3 1600-1700 ➔ BLOW1
Examples
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
  • a blow to the stomach
  • His championship hopes were dealt a savage blow last night when he received a hamstring injury.
  • Not being allowed to return to her own country was a blow from which she never really recovered.
  • Officer Stacey was knocked over by a sharp blow to the head.
  • The blow proved fatal.
  • The assailant struck several blows before he was restrained.
  • The Colorado river was closed, a bitter blow to rafters and kayakers who may have to wait seven years for a river use permit.
  • three heavy blows from the hammer
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
  • For the prosecution case to stand, it will be necessary to prove that Lenny McLean struck the fatal blow.
  • He had a robust self-esteem, even though this was a blow, and he needed financially to continue working.
  • He kept coming, taking ten blows for one.
  • It is a sweeping blow and only one who has seen them in action knows how tremendous it is.
  • One jarring blow crushed it all.
  • One of the knife blows had punctured a lung.
  • The blue rose on stubby wings, twisting acrobatically to slip the blow.
  • Tony smiled and without moving his left knee dodged the blows, his torso jinking, neck muscles popping.
Thesaurus
Longman Language Activatorto harm a person, group, country etc
to have a bad effect on something, in a way that makes it weaker, less effective, or less successful: · Walking out without giving any notice will only harm your career.· Any scandal will certainly harm the company's reputation.· These new export restrictions are sure to harm the economy.· The most important consideration is that the environment is not harmed.
to permanently harm something such as the success, health, or image of a person, organization etc so that they are not as effective as before: · Several recent events have damaged the government's public image.· This is likely to damage Scott's reputation even more.seriously/badly damage something: · Smoking can seriously damage your health.· The company's future prospects will be badly damaged if this deal falls through.
to change or effect something in a harmful way: · Drinking so much is bound to have a bad effect on your health.· An increase in interest rates at the present time would definitely be bad for business.
to have a sudden bad effect on someone or something, harming them badly: · A sudden rise in inflation always hits living standards.be badly hit: · Southern England has been badly hit by flooding, and many homes are now without power.hit something/somebody hard: · Elderly people were the hardest hit by the increase in tax on fuel.
to have a bad effect on an organization or activity, by making it less successful or effective: · Most companies have been hurt by the economic slowdown.· This is mainly going to hurt those who already have least.
to harm the plans, chances, confidence etc of a person or organization: · It would be stupid to pretend this was anything but a blow to the prime minister.be a big/serious/severe etc blow: · The incident was a severe blow to UN peace efforts.· Losing the match against Rumania, dealt a huge blow to the team.
to harm something such as an ability or the way a body or system works - use this especially in medical or technical contexts: · If a witness is allowed to withhold evidence, it impairs the legal process.· Alcohol significantly impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery.
formal to be likely to harm something: · Working in front of a computer all day may be detrimental to your eyesight.· Any further housing development will be detrimental to the character of this small town.
if you do something at the expense of someone or something else, you do it in order to gain an advantage, even if it harms them or has a bad effect on them: · Cigarette manufacturers continue to pursue profit at the expense of our children.· Many people are now working a fifty or sixty hour week, at the expense of their family life.
to seriously harm something by causing a lot of harm and confusion: · A major computer failure wrought havoc on the New York Subway last night.wreak havoc/play havoc with: · Working so late is starting to play havoc with her social life.
when something hits someone or something
the movement of hitting someone hard with your hand or with something held in your hand: · The blow proved fatal.strike (somebody) a blow: · The assailant struck several blows before he was restrained.· Officer Stacey was knocked over by a sharp blow to the head.
when one object hits another: · Just after the impact there was a flash as the rocket exploded.on impact: · Both cars burst into flames on impact.
when something, especially a vehicle, hits something else while it is moving: · Whiplash, a neck injury, is a result of automobile collisions.· News of the mid-air collision reached the papers quickly.head-on collision (=when two vehicles hit each other directly): · Those who drive the road regularly say their biggest fear is a head-on collision.
something that shocks you
something very bad or unpleasant that happens to you and that you did not expect: · "The bill came to almost £500." "That must have been a shock."get a shock: · Gary got a shock when his ex-girlfriend turned up on his doorstep.give somebody a shock: · It gave me a shock to realize that I had almost died.with a shock: · He realised with a faint shock that it was Lulu, much older but still beautiful.be in for a shock (=used to say someone will be shocked when they discover something): · If the FBI thought they could outwit him, they were in for a shock.a rude shock British (=a big and very unpleasant shock): · Going on holiday with Ian had been a rude shock -- he'd been argumentative, mean and not at all what she'd expected.
an unpleasant event or piece of news that makes you shocked, upset, and disappointed: · Not being allowed to return to her own country was a blow from which she never really recovered.blow to: · The Colorado river was closed, a bitter blow to rafters and kayakers who may have to wait seven years for a river use permit. deal somebody a blow: · His championship hopes were dealt a savage blow last night when he received a hamstring injury.
a piece of news which is extremely shocking and bad: drop a bombshell (=tell people something very shocking or surprising): · Then Vanessa dropped the bombshell that she was leaving - and leaving that night.come as a bombshell: · For the board of directors, the news of the crash came as a bombshell.
a sudden shock that happens when you find out the unpleasant truth about a situation: · Moving to the city was a rude awakening for an innocent country girl like Eli.be in for a rude awakening (=used to say that someone will be unpleasantly shocked when they discover something): · I was expecting the oral exam to be easy, but I was in for a rude awakening.
Collocations
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYADJECTIVES/NOUN + blow
· The earthquake was a serious blow to the area’s tourism industry.
· The news was a terrible blow for his family.
(=extremely disappointing)· Their defeat was a bitter blow.
(=extremely hard to bear)· Her loss came as a devastating blow to her father.
(=a very serious difficulty which could cause something to fail completely)· A tax on books would be a body blow for education.
(=causing something to end)· When he quit it dealt a mortal blow to the show.
verbs
· I can’t deny his leaving was a blow.
· The 1982 drought dealt a devastating blow to the country.
· His sudden death came as a huge blow to us all.
· Opinion polls delivered a nasty blow to the Tory leader.
· Our team suffered a blow when Paul was sent off the field.
(=make it easier to deal with)· There are various ways to soften the blow of redundancy among staff.
phrases
British English especially spoken (=be disappointing or cause problems for you)· The result was a bit of a blow for the team.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
(=very detailed)· Rosemary gave me a blow-by-blow account of their trip.
 full-blown AIDS (=AIDS at its most advanced stage)
 Can you help me blow up these balloons?
(=by a bomb)· A bus shelter nearby was blown to bits.
· The strong breeze blew sand in our faces.
 She was blowing bubbles in her milk with a straw.
· Can you blow out all the candles on your birthday cake?
informal (=have a special opportunity and fail to use it)· He thought he’d blown his chance of happiness.
(=something that damages credibility)· The case was a severe blow to the administration's credibility.
 His death was a cruel blow.
 Failing his final exams was a crushing blow (=made him lose hope and confidence).
 generous leaving allowances to help cushion the blow of redundancy
 His decision to leave the show has delivered a death blow to the series.
 He deflected the blow with his forearm.
(=a devastating action or event)· When a huge car bomb exploded, it was a devastating blow to the peace plan.
 His presidential hopes suffered a fatal blow in New Hampshire.
(=make it melt by putting too much electricity through it)
· It was a grey winter’s day with an Atlantic gale blowing.
British English (=the wind is blowing very strongly)· It was blowing a gale last night.
(=make a noise with your horn)
 He left the gas on and nearly blew us all to kingdom come.
(=to kiss your hand and then blow across it towards someone)· Joe blew her a kiss and waved goodbye.
informal (=to lose the lead)· They managed to blow a 22-point lead.
(=clear your nose by blowing strongly into a piece of soft paper or cloth)· She blew her nose on a large white handkerchief.
also give a raspberry American English She blew a raspberry at him as he drove off.
(=an event that has a very bad effect)· The closure of the mine was a severe blow to the country’s economy.
 The impact of the tax was softened by large tax-free allowances.
(=starts)· That night, a storm blew up.
(=ends)· The storm finally blew itself out.
(=starts)· In 1895 a diplomatic storm blew up between Britain and America over Venezuela.
(=ends)· The president is just hoping that the storm will blow over quickly.
 Paul struck him a blow to the head.
 The scandal seemed to have struck a mortal blow to the government’s chances of re-election.
(=experience a situation or event that causes difficulty or sadness)· The government suffered another blow when a report claimed that standards in education were falling.
 The lifeguard blew his whistle.
· A cold wind was blowing.
· The trees were all swaying in the wind.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· He says that it's a big blow, staff are very upset.· A big blow came last summer, when Fortune magazine predicted legal and financial chaos for Hong Kong after 1997.· The decision is a big blow to James but a welcome boost for Hooper.· The card suffered a big blow when Phoenix junior-flyweight Michael Carbajal withdrew because of pneumonia.· But the biggest blow was a cut of £200,000 in its council grant.· Losing Harris and Prince would be the biggest blows, though.· He says that the biggest blow came when Rank's made thousands redundant in the eighties.· Wilson knows which way the big national wind blows.
· It was a bitter blow when the trustees preferred the reprint.· The loss of that partner through death, either shortly before retirement or afterwards, comes as a bitter blow.· It was a particularly bitter blow for Leeds, because in the very first minute they should have levelled the tie.· So defeat was a bitter blow to Dowding.
· That was a cruel blow for Howard Wilkinson's team, who had made a committed, controlled and commanding start.· This had been a cruel blow, but it wouldn't stop her from ensuring that justice was done.· It would have been an unnecessary and cruel blow for her to see her old home in its state of decay.· The fact Pears could be ruled out of the crunch game at Molineux is a cruel blow after his superb season.· It is a cruel blow and one that again underlines the inconsistency of the red card law.· He wanted to give comfort, and protect her from the cruel blow life had dealt her.· Yet with their very first attack, the visitors struck a cruel blow.
· A sharp run-down in the business would be a devastating blow to the local economy.· That would be a devastating blow to the long-term unemployed.· Her loss is a devastating blow to the standing of the monarchy.· That was a devastating blow from which the constituency is struggling to recover.· Forest struck a devastating first blow after 11 minutes.· Shaking a little at first but gradually warming to his theme, the sacked Chancellor dealt John Major a devastating blow.· The death of Osvaldo was a devastating blow to all Danuese patriots.
· Villa had suffered a double injury blow before manager Ron Atkinson had settled in the dugout.· However, the danger is that the double blow of recession and Royal Mail reorganisation could make that first rung very narrow.· The double blow left the 43-year-old Grease star numb with shock.· It was a double blow, too, for Morris.
· But the elections were a further, and fatal, blow.· His presidential hopes thus suffered a fatal blow in the snow drifts of New Hampshire.· For the prosecution case to stand, it will be necessary to prove that Lenny McLean struck the fatal blow.· This was the first time he dealt a fatal blow without intending it.· Experts claim that at least half were inflicted well before the fatal blow.· The woman had lashed out in fear and given the bird a fatal blow, feathers everywhere.· He had not delivered the fatal blows, he had not pulled the trigger.· Who might strike the fatal blow this time?
· The final blow for many firms was the government's abolition of import duties which resulted in a flood of cheap imports.· Practices which have characterised the details of your daily living from the cradle upwards are dealt a swift and final blow.· The final blow for Philip was the defection of his chancellor, Conrad, bishop of Würzburg.
· This was a further blow for Adolph Zukor; both Arbuckle and Taylor had been under contract to him.
· It leapt forward as Delaney cried out and struck it a glancing blow with the torch.· Gorbad bellowed in agony and swung Morgor wildly, catching Adolphus a glancing blow across the temple.· Police believe Tony was struck a glancing blow by the wing mirror of a transit-type van.
· It will be a greater blow than would be a dozen pogroms.· It was a great blow to all the family. 1962 brought more shocks for Salvationists in Rhodesia.· Stalingrad was the greatest single blow of the war.· Her death in April 1994 was the second great blow in his life.
· He had struggled to his feet, but then felt a really hard blow on the face.· Good fortune can be as bewildering as a hard blow sometimes.· It's a hard blow to stop.· It was the hardest blow he had ever taken.· He survived a hard blow to the jaw in the dying seconds to win 20-10.
· Now think again of the wound on Hector's face - a heavy blow, a wide gash.· I am not wholly barren of hope, for circumstances have been dealing the conventional wisdom a new series of heavy blows.· It is knocked to the ground by a heavy blow, seized by the throat or mouth and quickly suffocated.· For the beneficiaries the change would be almost imperceptible: for the losers it would be a heavy blow.· He says that both changes will be a heavy blow for young self-employed workers.· The repression which followed temporarily halted the labour movement and dealt the party a heavy blow.· Obituary: Carlo Verrri. Heavy blow to Alitalia:.
· But the study is a huge blow to the transplant programme, criticised not least because of the huge costs involved.· It was a huge blow to him.
· If people will use the vaccine available, it is possible to give paralytic polio a knockout blow within the next year.
· Trinidad was warned for low blows twice by referee Mitch Halpern.· He respected Ray and his willingness to fight for his ideals, but this was a low blow.
· The loss of the plant would have been a major blow to the local economy.· This is a major blow, perhaps a turning point.· It then takes a major blow to fracture it.· However, its fall is another major blow to the rebels.· That would be a major blow for the airline.· Dundee also suffered a major blow when player/manager Simon Stainrod limped off seven minutes from the interval.· Losing his international place two years ago was also a major blow.· Losses are expected to top £100m this year, a major blow to the company's 40,000 employees.
· Yesterday, the joint shop stewards committee of Corporate Jets said a loss of production would be a mortal blow.· It was not a mortal blow in the style of Lord Howe who brought about the downfall of Margaret Thatcher.· Though Canary's death was a mortal blow to the film, the groundwork he had laid carried the project forward.
· Like the contagious diseases defeat, Simon's resignation was received as a serious blow by the medical profession.· But politically, the rebellion in the Cabinet is a serious and telling blow.· The Taff Vale decision was a serious blow to trade unionism.· This year, that amount could plummet to $ 1 million, a serious blow to the already financially struggling tribe.· A person who is quickly back on his or her feet after a serious blow.· The decision also represented a serious blow to the morale of the regulatory authorities.· His departure will, of course, be a serious blow to our hopes of pulling away from the foot of the table.· It is being said with some conviction that Labour inflicted a serious blow on itself with that Sheffield monster rally.
· The failure of the Accord was also a severe blow to Mulroney and prompted opposition calls for his resignation.· This was a severe blow because we needed him desperately.· Pittsburgh suffered a severe blow, however, when quarterback Neil O'Donnell broke his right leg.· This is a severe blow to the Fernandez family.· Bank Assistants have suffered a severe blow.· That could deliver a severe financial blow to the county.· Pentrite can explode without a detonator if it receives a severe blow or strong friction.· Finally, the cutting of trade with the United States from 1985 was a severe blow.
· With the exact position established, the outline can be scored with sharp blows from a club hammer and bolster chisel.· The bird-swat includes the same approach, but then ends with an upward leap and a sharp blow with the front foot.· The sharpest financial blow came in mid-1939, when the owner of Bunce Court decided she wanted to sell the freehold.· Another sharp blow hit him between his shoulder-blades.· She felt a sharp blow to her arm and gasped, retreating further.
· The lock shattered with a single blow of the sledgehammer and they were in.· There was no acceptable explanation for the injuries, and the injuries were consistent with a single blow.· He found the spot where the three reeds were growing and at a single blow cut down all three with his sword.· Stalingrad was the greatest single blow of the war.· It looks as if he was struck by a single blow and died where he fell.· Baking makes chestnuts brittle, which means they can be knocked off their string with a single blow.· I agree that he was probably killed by a single blow and that wooden mallet on the table seems the likely weapon.· Drums with single blows merging into a volley, resembling a creaking branch.
· Female speaker It's a terrible blow just on top of everything else.· The outcome of the campaign was a terrible blow to the burdened President.· I knew it would be a terrible blow to Marxism-Leninism.· His untimely loss is a terrible blow to all of us who knew and cared for him.· She says closing the college would be a terrible blow - it's used by thousands of people.· How it all happened I now don't quite know, Except that my nose stopped a terrible blow.
NOUN
· Suddenly the confidence of the new radicals received a body blow.· The heat had gradually become an expected body blow which was endurable with certain rules.· The news was a body blow and for several months the company was on a knife edge.· But tomorrow, with just a few words, the Chancellor could deal the company a body blow.· Every tale - depressing as it is in its own right represents another body blow to the leasing industry.· The news Herrmann brought was like a body blow.
· The fact that they have seen nothing is by no means an immediate death blow for all grand unified theories.· The death blow to drug chic actually may have been struck by a fast-food chain.· The death blow to the Aksumite kingdom came in the tenth century from unassimilated Agaw in the south.· Neither, however, will be a death blow.· Was it however so paradoxical as to have dealt a death blow to the theory?
· Such speeds are far faster than any hammer blow and considerably faster than the flight of bullets.· The tunnels were quiet during the hammer blow of 1972.· It brought another hammer blow to Britain's depressed farming industry.· She glanced at her own reflection in the mirror and the answer came with the suddenness of a hammer blow.· Labour's energy spokesman says the decision is bad news for the consumer and a hammer blow for the coal industry.· Granny's thoughts had the strength of hammer blows and they'd pounded her personality into the walls.· The sight was a hammer blow to Yuri Rudakov.· It was followed by a hammer blow that echoed like thunder through the steel hulk.
VERB
· To cushion the blow, wages and pensions were increased.· Additionally, two presidential decrees on March 23 had been designed to cushion the blow of the price rises.· There was no way to cushion the blow.· Even where price increases have taken place, retailers with good stocks may be able to cushion the blow for a while.· The thick, air-filled bone of the skull helps to cushion the blow.· Colonel Goreng broke the news to me, making no effort to cushion the blow.
· It also dealt a blow to his testimonial, which nevertheless realised more than £2000.· This was the first time he dealt a fatal blow without intending it.· Once more the war had dealt an unfair blow to Otago cricket.· Every blow of his was parried, though I dealt no blows in return.· But it will deal a blow to the agreement, which allows publishers to set a minimum price for most books.· His stance was apologetic, almost cringing as if he expected to be dealt a blow.· Mickey had a ramp with pea sized objects rolling down to be dealt a mighty blow from a spring loaded mallet.· They have enough problems avoiding the stones they are throwing among themselves to be dealt such an additional blow.
· He deflected the blow, and the razor edge cut deep into the gunwale of the ship.· Scathach pushed her away, turning her in time to deflect the blow from another raider.· As the knife flashed down, aimed at his heart, Connor deflected the blow with his left forearm.
· Furthermore, its flexibility and power of movement are considerably greater, so that less power is needed to deliver a blow.· She stood her ground and got an almighty shove from Vassily, who smiled at me apologetically as he delivered the blow.· Government forces delivered a critical blow to the rebels on March 7 when the Defence Ministry's communication links were severed.· By the late 1880s there was nothing terribly mysterious about getting a steam hammer to deliver a blow of so many tons.· Our final rehearsal before Farnham, however, delivered the cruellest blow so far.· When he delivered his last blow, he avoided my face, and looked worried.· He had not delivered the fatal blows, he had not pulled the trigger.· That could deliver a severe financial blow to the county.
· Two figures were battling furiously, exchanging blows as they materialized.· While the men exchanged blows the girl struck Farini from behind with a blunt instrument.· They rolled over and over on the damp moss, exchanging blows and vile words until finally Topaz's strength ran out.
· The darker boy rallied and eventually landed more and heavier blows.· The official unions will have to compete directly with Solidarity for members, so they want to land the first blows.· Sharpe hacked again, this time landing a blow on the back of the helmet.· Johnson counter-punched, landing three telling blows.· This time, he hardly landed a blow as the majestic Christie cruised home.
· Like the contagious diseases defeat, Simon's resignation was received as a serious blow by the medical profession.· His adventure began during a practice game against the Minnesota Vikings when he received a blow to the head.· Her eyebrow had received the blow from the torch and had begun to throb; she could feel a trickle of blood.· I used to duck and cover my face, receiving ten blows instead of one.· As they straighten, curve the spine and pull in the tummy, as if you have just received a blow.· As he received the blow his face writhed and he gasped with pain.· Agnes went to pick her up and received a blow from an elbow that sent her across the room.· He went down to protest and himself began to receive blows.
· Help, or soften the blow.?· There was no warning, no softening of the blow.· Or will motherhood soften the blow?· Try starting with a pat on the back to soften the blow of criticism.· The Chancellor's flexibility to reduce interest rates much further, to soften the blow of tax increases, looks limited.· Factories had closed, and thousands were out of work, without unemployment insurance to soften the blow.· But you can soften the blow by telling his Dad that none of the other dads can do it either.· Letting some one resign is a way to soften the blow.
· But Kevin Curren struck some crucial blows - runs that Warwickshire could ill afford to concede at this stage of the match.· They were certainly striking a blow for short people.· Let us strike the blow which is to restore peace and union to this distracted land.· Eventually, one of them attacked it with a large branch, striking it a damaging blow.· The guard made a point of gazing into the distance as he struck his blows.· Some one ought to strike a blow for women and show this vain man that he was utterly resistible!
· Villa had suffered a double injury blow before manager Ron Atkinson had settled in the dugout.· His presidential hopes thus suffered a fatal blow in the snow drifts of New Hampshire.· Pittsburgh suffered a severe blow, however, when quarterback Neil O'Donnell broke his right leg.· The card suffered a big blow when Phoenix junior-flyweight Michael Carbajal withdrew because of pneumonia.· In addition to the papal disregard of Canterbury's primatial claim over York, the monastic community suffered another grievous blow.· Bank Assistants have suffered a severe blow.· Aside from the engine failure Stiletto suffered a tyre blow out.· Maesteg suffered a blow yesterday when they learnt captain and centre Huw Woodland will be sidelined for another month.
Phrases
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
  • He and John, the Red Comyn, had come to blows before.
  • The effect was unnerving, and at first I thought the old men would come to blows.
  • The two actors reputedly almost came to blows and ended the film not talking to each other.
  • The two of them shouted at each other and until Daley stomped out, the secretaries feared they would come to blows.
  • They came to blows in Jersey last weekend and Speedie was fined £50 in court.
  • Two men had come to blows, an arm had been broken.
  • We curse and leave the room or even come to blows.
  • When Antony and Cleopatra come to blows, the scene explodes.
  • Some of the money will be used to soften the blow of budget cuts to education.
  • Additionally, two presidential decrees on March 23 had been designed to cushion the blow of the price rises.
  • Even where price increases have taken place, retailers with good stocks may be able to cushion the blow for a while.
  • Factories had closed, and thousands were out of work, without unemployment insurance to soften the blow.
  • Help, or soften the blow.?
  • Letting some one resign is a way to soften the blow.
  • To cushion the blow, wages and pensions were increased.
  • Try starting with a pat on the back to soften the blow of criticism.
  • He respected Ray and his willingness to fight for his ideals, but this was a low blow.
  • Trinidad was warned for low blows twice by referee Mitch Halpern.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a blow-by-blow account/description etc
  • It will blow the cobwebs away.
  • Talk about blowing the cobwebs away!
  • And this might come as a surprise to our brethren in the popular national press - Thirty-eight.
  • Buller's Hill House came as a surprise.
  • Her answer came as a surprise.
  • It comes as a surprise to find him boasting of his prowess as a rioter.
  • Nevertheless, he said the sharp drop in the book-to-bill came as a surprise.
  • Nor should it come as a surprise that these rules frequently get S corporation owners into trouble.
  • So it comes as a surprise to discover that this is not always the case.
  • This should not come as a surprise to people who are free.
  • But it will deal a blow to the agreement, which allows publishers to set a minimum price for most books.
  • His stance was apologetic, almost cringing as if he expected to be dealt a blow.
  • It also dealt a blow to his testimonial, which nevertheless realised more than £2000.
  • Very many died without ever a chance of dealing a blow in return.
  • They rolled over and over on the damp moss, exchanging blows and vile words until finally Topaz's strength ran out.
  • Two figures were battling furiously, exchanging blows as they materialized.
  • While the men exchanged blows the girl struck Farini from behind with a blunt instrument.
  • The next morning we found the aircraft had blown a gasket.
  • They've got her started and she's blown a gasket.
  • We had blown a gasket and told them of our problem, but we did not declare an emergency.
  • As Pegasus fought clear, I smelled smoke and felt a glancing blow which whirled me backwards and away.
  • Gorbad bellowed in agony and swung Morgor wildly, catching Adolphus a glancing blow across the temple.
  • He was standing on a piling at the ferry slip in Brooklyn when the ferry hit it a glancing blow.
  • It leapt forward as Delaney cried out and struck it a glancing blow with the torch.
  • Police believe Tony was struck a glancing blow by the wing mirror of a transit-type van.
  • Tom struck his head a glancing blow, and blood came.
  • Granny's thoughts had the strength of hammer blows and they'd pounded her personality into the walls.
  • It brought another hammer blow to Britain's depressed farming industry.
  • It was followed by a hammer blow that echoed like thunder through the steel hulk.
  • Labour's energy spokesman says the decision is bad news for the consumer and a hammer blow for the coal industry.
  • She glanced at her own reflection in the mirror and the answer came with the suddenness of a hammer blow.
  • Such speeds are far faster than any hammer blow and considerably faster than the flight of bullets.
  • The sight was a hammer blow to Yuri Rudakov.
  • The tunnels were quiet during the hammer blow of 1972.
  • Paula was going hot and cold by now.
  • She went hot and cold, dizzy with confusion.
  • Some of these young officers blow hot and cold.
► it’s an ill wind (that blows nobody any good)
  • And then, as if to deliver the knockout blow to his scheme, the phone rang.
  • But the new West Indies proved encouragingly resilient, repeatedly getting up off the canvas to deliver the final knockout punch.
  • Great passing; good running, but they lacked a knockout punch.
  • He may not have a knockout punch, but he does have good moves all the way to the bell.
  • If people will use the vaccine available, it is possible to give paralytic polio a knockout blow within the next year.
  • It was a knockout punch of which Indurain, Hinault or Merckx would have been proud.
  • That seven eighty-one was like a knockout punch.
  • The business was reeling from what appeared to have been the knockout punch.
  • Flaws' Nigel's style includes getting caught with punches in order to land punches.
  • He shot out his right arm and landed a punch on Lorrimer's nose.
  • Sharpe hacked again, this time landing a blow on the back of the helmet.
  • The first tried to land a punch, but he missed.
  • This time, he hardly landed a blow as the majestic Christie cruised home.
► blow/sod/bugger etc that for a lark
  • As she reads or hears the news reports of battles, she can ascertain whether he is in mortal danger.
  • Hellenism no longer represented a mortal danger.
  • His dragon had taken a mortal wound as he and Caledor clashed on the battlefield.
  • Railroad traffic is a mortal danger.
  • This rust-blood pouring from mortal wounds in the planet's skin is a terrible indictment of the tyranny we climbers inflict.
  • Yesterday, the joint shop stewards committee of Corporate Jets said a loss of production would be a mortal blow.
► rain (down) blows/blows rain down
  • Agnes went to pick her up and received a blow from an elbow that sent her across the room.
  • As they straighten, curve the spine and pull in the tummy, as if you have just received a blow.
  • Ben stood transfixed with disbelief, his mouth open, as if he had received a blow across it.
  • For his outspokenness, he received a blow to the skull which sent him reeling.
  • He went down to protest and himself began to receive blows.
  • His adventure began during a practice game against the Minnesota Vikings when he received a blow to the head.
  • It was almost as if I had received a blow to the heart.
  • Wilson received an injury in the third minute, but that didn't hamper his stand on the game.
► ride a punch/blow► blow something sky-high
  • He says an overweight lorry in a crash will smash a car to smithereens.
  • And yet the correlations just knock my socks off..
  • So, he popped down to my office, stuck this demo on the turntable and it just blew my socks off.
  • The current crop of non-Windows databases can knock the socks off their predecessors.
  • This in-your-face marketing could be forgiven if the food absolutely knocked your socks off.
  • Recess is a good chance for kids to blow off steam.
  • It was recreation hour, explained Brother Andrew with a smile, and the Brothers were letting off steam.
  • Jody lets her blow off steam first.
  • Others have behavioural problems and need to let off steam in a safe and controlled setting.
  • She just needed to blow off steam.
  • So kicking the cat, biting a towel or pounding a pillow aren't really much use, except for letting off steam.
  • We let off steam in graffiti, vandalism and football hooliganism.
  • You got upset, blew off steam.
  • You want to let off steam?
  • Little Bill in drag strikes a blow for the downtrodden girls.
  • Some one ought to strike a blow for women and show this vain man that he was utterly resistible!
  • They were certainly striking a blow for short people.
  • He was more than prepared to trade blows with the former circus act Benichou.
  • The two camps traded insults, moans and jeers, threatening occasionally to turn the proceedings into an intramural debate.
► see which way the wind is blowing
1BAD EFFECT an action or event that causes difficulty or sadness for someone:  Joe resigned, which was a severe blow because we needed him desperately. His mother’s death was a shattering blow. The election result dealt a further blow to the party. The factory closures came as a blow to the local economy. The final blow for many firms was the government’s abolition of import duties.2hard hit a hard hit with someone’s hand, a tool, or a weapon:  She died from a heavy blow to the head. He struck a blow which threw her to the floor. Martin received a blow on the nose. He had been struck a glancing blow (=a blow that did not hit him directly) by the car.blow to He gave her a violent blow to the head.RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say that someone gets hit or that something hits them, rather than using the noun blow: He received a blow to the head. ➔ He got hit on the head.3blowing an action of blowing:  One big blow and the candles were out.4come to blows (with somebody) if two people come to blows, they start arguing or hitting each other because they disagree about somethingblow over They almost came to blows over the money.5soften/cushion the blow to make something unpleasant easier for someone to accept:  A reduction in interest rates would soften the blow of tax increases.6low blow American English informal something unkind you say to deliberately embarrass or upset someone → strike a blow for somebody/something at strike1(13)COLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + blowa big/major/serious/heavy blow· The earthquake was a serious blow to the area’s tourism industry.a severe/terrible/awful blow· The news was a terrible blow for his family.a bitter blow (=extremely disappointing)· Their defeat was a bitter blow.a cruel/devastating/crushing blow (=extremely hard to bear)· Her loss came as a devastating blow to her father.a body blow (=a very serious difficulty which could cause something to fail completely)· A tax on books would be a body blow for education.a mortal/fatal/death blow (=causing something to end)· When he quit it dealt a mortal blow to the show.verbsbe a blow· I can’t deny his leaving was a blow.deal a blow to somebody/something· The 1982 drought dealt a devastating blow to the country.come as a blow to somebody· His sudden death came as a huge blow to us all.deliver a blow· Opinion polls delivered a nasty blow to the Tory leader.suffer/receive a blow· Our team suffered a blow when Paul was sent off the field.soften/cushion the blow (=make it easier to deal with)· There are various ways to soften the blow of redundancy among staff.phrasesbe a bit of a blow British English especially spoken (=be disappointing or cause problems for you)· The result was a bit of a blow for the team.
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