blow

Universal Words verb, noun, exclamation verb (blew ) HELPNOTE In sense 13 blowed is used for the past participle.( from mouth 1 [+adv./prep.] to send out air from the mouth: [V] You're not blowing hard enough! * The policeman asked me to blow into the breathalyser. * [VN] He drew on his cigarette and blew out a stream of smoke. of wind 2 when the wind or a current of air blows, it is moving; when it blows, the wind is blowing: [V, often +adv./prep.] A cold wind blew from the east. * It was blowing hard. * [VN] It was blowing a gale )= there was a strong wind(. move with wind / breath 3 [+adv./prep.] to be moved by the wind, sb's breath, etc.; to move sth in this way: [V] My hat blew off. * [V-ADJ] The door blew open. * [VN] I was almost blown over by the wind. * She blew the dust off the book. * The ship was blown onto the rocks. * The bomb blast blew two passers-by across the street. [also VN-ADJ] whistle / instrument 4 if you blow a whistle, musical instrument, etc. or if a whistle, etc. blows, you produce a sound by blowing into the whistle, etc: [VN] The referee blew his whistle. * [V] the sound of trumpets blowing your nose 5 [VN] ~ your nose to clear your nose by blowing strongly through it into a HANDKERCHIEF a kiss 6 [VN, VNN] ~ )sb( a kiss to kiss your hand and then pretend to blow the kiss towards sb shape sth 7 [VN] to make or shape sth by blowing: to blow smoke rings * to blow bubbles )= for example, by blowing onto a thin layer of water mixed with soap( * to blow glass )= to send a current of air into melted glass to shape it( electricity 8 [V, VN] if a FUSE blows or you blow a FUSE, the electricity stops flowing suddenly because the FUSE )= a thin wire( has melted because the current was too strong with explosives 9 [VN] to break sth open with explosives: The safe had been blown by the thieves. secret 10 [VN] )informal( to make known sth that was secret: One mistake could blow your cover )= make your real name, job, intentions, etc. known(. * We're going to blow his operation wide open. money 11 [VN] ~ sth )on sth( )informal( to spend or waste a lot of money on sth: He inherited over a million dollars and blew it all on drink and gambling. opportunity 12 [VN] )informal( to waste an opportunity: She blew her chances by arriving late for the interview. * You had your chance and you blew it. exclamation 13 [VN] )BrE, informal( used to show that you are annoyed, surprised or do not care about sth: Blow it! We've missed the bus. * Well, blow me down! I never thought I'd see you again. * I'm blowed if I'm going to )= I certainly will not( let him treat you like that. * Let's take a taxi and blow )= never mind( the expense. leave suddenly 14 )AmE, slang( to leave a place suddenly: [VN] Let's blow this joint. [also V] IDIOMS blow your / sb's brains out to kill yourself/sb by shooting yourself/them in the head blow a fuse )informal( to get very angry blow the gaff )on sb/sth( )BrE, informal( to tell sth secret, especially by mistake blow hot and cold )about sth( )informal( to change your opinion about sth often blow your mind )informal( to produce a very strong pleasant or shocking feeling: Wait till you hear this. It'll blow your mind. seealsoMIND-BLOWING blow your own trumpet )especially BrE( )AmE usually blow / toot your own horn( )informal( to praise your own abilities and achievements SYNBOAST blow your top )BrE( )AmE blow your stack( )informal( to get very angry blow up in sb's face if a plan, etc. blows up in your face, it goes wrong in a way that causes you damage, embarrassment, etc. blow the whistle on sb/sth )informal( to tell sb in authority about sth wrong or illegal that sb is doing seealsoWHISTLE-BLOWER IDIOMS see COBWEB, ILLadj., LARKn., LID, PUFFv., SOCKn., WAYn. PHRASALVERBS blow sb<->away )informal, especially AmE( 1 to kill sb by shooting them 2 to impress sb a lot or to make them very happy blow in