blaze (redirected from blazes up)

blaze a trail 

1. Lit. to make and mark a trail. The scout blazed a trail through the forest.

2. Fig. to do early or pioneering work that others will follow up on. Professor Williams blazed a trail in the study of physics.

See also: trail

blaze away (at someone or something)

[for gunfire] to fire continually at someone or something. The guns blazed away at the oncoming ducks. The cowboy blazed away at his opponent in the gunfight.

See also: away

blaze down (on someone or something)

[for the sun or other hot light] to burn from above onto someone or something. The sun blazed down on the people on the beach. The stage lights blazed down on the set while the actors rehearsed.

blaze up 

1. Lit. [for flames] to expand upward suddenly. The fire blazed up and warmed all of us. As the fire blazed up, we moved away from the fireplace.

2. Fig. [for trouble, especially violent trouble] to erupt suddenly. The battle blazed up again, and the fighting started to become fierce. As the battle blazed up, the cowards fled into the hills.

See also: up

blaze with something

to burn with some quality, such as great heat or sound. The sun blazed with unbelievable heat. The fire blazed with much crackling.

Damn it to blue blazes!

Rur. Damn it. (An oath.) Damn it to blue blazes, I told you I can't lend you any more money! "Damn it to blue blazes! I give up!" Joe shouted, flinging his tools aside.

See also: blue, damn

Go to blazes!

Inf. Go to hell! Go to blazes! Stop pestering me! I'm sick of your complaining. Go to blazes!

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[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?

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

with (your) guns blazing  also all 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 spike guns

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