blaze

blaze a trail

to do something that no-one has done before, especially something which will be important for other people. The hospital has blazed a trail in developing new techniques for treating infertility.

See also: trail

Go to blazes! (old-fashioned, informal)

a rude and angry way of telling someone to go away and that you do not care what happens to them. Just go to blazes! I'm sick of your rudeness! If he's going to start making demands, he can go to blazes.

like blue blazes (American & Australian, old-fashioned)

if someone or something does something like blue blazes, they do it a lot. This sweater itches like blue blazes.

See also: blue, like

trail-blazing

blaze a trail - to do something that no-one has done before, especially something which will be important for other people. We'll be discussing the latest book from trail-blazing American feminist Gloria Steinem. (always before noun)

[What/Why/Who etc.] the blue blazes (old-fashioned, informal)

if you start a question with what/who/why etc. the blazes, you show that you are very surprised or angry about the thing you are asking about. What the blazes are they doing up on the roof?

See also: blue, who, why

with (your) guns blazing

if you do something, especially argue, with guns blazing, you do it with a lot of force and energy. The boy's mother arrived at the school, all guns blazing, furious that her son had been suspended.

See also: gun

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blaze a trail

to do something different. The hospital has blazed a trail in children's care by giving them many things to do and allowing visitors at any hour.

See also: trail