blow up

blow someone or something up 

1. Lit. to destroy someone or something by explosion. The terrorists blew the building up at midday. They blew up the bridge.

2. Fig. to exaggerate something [good or bad] about someone or something. I hope no one blows the story up. The media always blows up reports of celebrity behavior. The press blew the story up unnecessarily.

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blow something up 

1. to inflate something. He didn't have enough breath to blow the balloon up. They all blew up their own balloons.

2. to have a photograph enlarged. How big can you blow this picture up? I will blow up this snapshot and frame it.

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blow up 

1. Lit. [for something] to explode. The bomb might have blown up if the children had tried to move it. The firecracker blew up.

2. Fig. to burst into anger. I just knew you'd blow up. So she blew up. Why should that affect you so much?

3. Fig. an angry outburst; a fight. (Usually blowup.) After the third blowup, she left him. One blowup after another from you. Control your temper!

4. Fig. an enlarged version of a photograph, map, chart, etc. (Usually blowup.) Here's a blowup of the scene of the crime. Kelly sent a blowup of their wedding picture to all her relatives.

5. Fig. the ruination of something; the collapse of something. (Usually blowup.) The blowup in the financial world has ruined my chances for early retirement. After the blowup at the company, the top managers called one another to compare notes.

6. Fig. to fall apart or get ruined. The whole project blew up. It will have to be canceled. All my planning was blown up this afternoon.

7. [for a storm] to arrive accompanied by the blowing of the wind. A terrible storm blew up while we were in the movie theater. I was afraid that a rainstorm was blowing up.

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blow up

to become suddenly very angry He may blow up when he finds out how much money I spent.

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blow up something also blow something up

to make something larger Could you blow this picture up to 8 by 10?

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