blast off
1. To shoot upward from the ground, as of a rocket. The rocket blasted off successfully and is now headed for the moon. My kids love blasting off toy rockets in the back yard and seeing how high they'll go. We're going to Cape Canaveral with the hope of watching a NASA rocket blast off!
2. To ignite an exploding device, such as fireworks. Our poor dog is hiding under the bed because our neighbors celebrate the Fourth of July by blasting off tons of fireworks. Come on, there is no need to blast off that many fireworks in this small residential neighborhood. Run before the bomb blasts off!
3. To use an explosion to destroy or remove something. After the emergency crew blasted off some rocks, they were able to free the trapped hikers from the cave. I wish I could still go visit our old family home, but it's already been blasted to kingdom come by the demolition crew. The gunpowder somehow ignited and blasted off that whole section of the ship.
4. To amputate by means of an explosion. I'm really worried my fool husband is going to blast off a hand while playing with those fireworks! Hey, you're going to blast off a finger if you aren't careful! I bet some soldiers blasted off their limbs trying to fire these cannons back in the day.
5. To depart very quickly. The robbers blasted off when they heard the approaching sirens. I blasted off to the store for cleaning supplies when I heard that my mother-in-law was coming to town. Kids blasted off in every direction when they realized the cops were coming.
6. To strike with a lot of force in order to remove something, as with a pressure washer or sandblaster. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "blast" and "off." The sidewalk looks so clean this morning! I guess someone from the township blasted all the stains off of it. We can blast off that graffiti with the pressure washer. Be careful using a power washer to blast the algae off your deck—you don't want to mess up the wood.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
blast (something) off (something else)
to remove something from something else with a powerful charge, pressure, or force. They blasted the writing off the wall with a stream of sand. We will have to blast the paint off the wall.
blast off
(for some place) 1. [for a space vehicle] to take off and head toward a destination. The rocket blasted off for the moon. Will it blast off on time?
2. Sl. [for someone] to leave for a destination quickly. Ann blasted off for the library so she could study. I've got to blast off. It's late.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
blast off
1. Also, blast away. Take off or be launched, especially into space, as in They're scheduled to blast off on Tuesday. This usage originated with the development of powerful rockets, spacecraft, and astronauts, to all of which it was applied. [c. 1950]
2. Depart, clear out, as in This party's over; let's blast off now. [Slang; early 1950s]
3. Become excited or high, especially from using drugs, as in They give parties where people blast off. [Slang; c. 1960]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
blast off
v.1. To be launched off the ground. Used of rockets: The astronauts were strapped in their seats and ready to blast off.
2. To launch some rocket from the ground: The space agency needs a new location to blast off its spacecraft. The kids set up their model rockets on the field and blasted them off.
3. To explode or fire something: I blasted off some firecrackers during the celebration. I put some bullets in the gun and blasted a few rounds off to test it.
4. To dislodge or remove something with an explosion: Be careful not to blast your fingers off with that loaded gun! To make room for the new road, the workers blasted off a large rock from the side of the hill.
5. Slang To depart for a destination: We need to blast off right now if we are going to get to the party on time.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
blast off
verbMcGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.