blow (something) wide open
1. To expose something scandalous or deceptive. That company's stock price plummeted after the media blew the CEO's embezzlement scandal wide open. An anonymous tip to the police is what blew the theft ring wide open. She is known for blowing the government's massive cover-up wide open.
2. To make the outcome of a competition hard to predict. Having so many outstanding teams in the playoffs this year has really blown the field wide open. The pundits don't know which candidate is going to win now that this newcomer has blown everything wide open. Wow, and that skier was favored to win too. Her disqualification has blown this Downhill race wide open!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
blow something wide open
1. If someone blows a way of doing things wide open, they change it completely by doing things in a totally different way. The youthful, informal Harrison has blown the old newsreader image wide open. Note: Verbs such as throw, bust, and split are sometimes used instead of blow. This whole affair could split the Italian political system wide open. That was the old system and it was bust wide open.
2. If someone blows something wide open, they reveal something secret that other people have been trying to hide. You wait. My lawyer will blow this wide open. Has it occurred to you that he can blow the operation wide open?
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
blow something wide open
and bust something wide open tv. to expose corrupt practices or a scheme; to put an end to corruption. The press is trying to blow the town wide open, and the feebies are trying to hush them up so they can move about in secret. We’ll blow this gang wide open!
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.