blow away
1. Of the wind, to blow someone or something away from its current location. Our trashcans were blown away in that bad storm, and we finally found them down the street in our neighbor's yard. I was almost blown away on my walk to the library because it's so windy out! I wouldn't put out the recycling until the wind dies down. You don't want everything to blow away.
2. To thoroughly impress, overwhelm, or excite someone. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "blow" and "away." The show of support from everyone just blew me away. I was blown away by how good that movie was! It's not like I expected to be blown away by that play or anything, but I also didn't think it would be so dull that I could barely stay awake!
3. slang To kill someone, especially with gunfire or an explosive device. Ray blew away the informant, just as the boss told him to. I've heard there are still landmines around here, so we have to be careful. One wrong step and we'll be blown away! The robber waved his gun and shouted, "Get back, or I'll blow you away!"
4. To defeat an opponent easily or by a wide margin. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can used between "blow" and "away." The final score was 17–1? Wow, we really blew that team away! I have a feeling the top-ranked team is just going to blow away any opponent they face. As predicted, that candidate dominated in the election and blew her opponent away.
blown away
1. Thoroughly impressed, overwhelmed, or excited by something. I am blown away by the show of support from everyone. I was blown away by how good that movie was! We had no idea Molly had such a beautiful singing voice, so we were blown away by her performance at the talent show.
2. slang Intoxicated, either by drugs or alcohol. Do you remember last night at the bar at all? You were really blown away! Well, I must have been blown away if I got up and did karaoke at the bar! Help him get home, will ya? He started drinking whiskey, and now he's blown away.
3. slang Killed by gunfire. Two guys were blown away in your building tonight, and you don't know anything about it? The robber waved his gun and told us we'd be blown away if we didn't stay back. A: "Boss, the informant's been blown away." B: "Good. That rat needed to be silenced."
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
blow someone or something away
[for the wind] to carry someone or something away. The wind almost blew her away. It nearly blew away all the houses.
blow someone away
1. Sl. [for something shocking or exciting] to overwhelm a person; to excite a person very much. The amount of the check blew me away. The loud noise from the concert blew me away.
2. Sl. to murder someone, usually by gunfire. Mr. Big ordered Lefty to blow Max away. Max tried to blow Lefty away.
blow away
[for something light] to be carried away by the wind. The leaves blew away on the autumn winds. My papers blew away!
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
blow away
1. Kill, especially by gunshot or explosion. For example, The unit reported that the whole village was blown away. This usage became particularly widespread in the 1960s, during the Vietnam War. [Slang; early 1990s]
2. Overcome easily; defeat decisively. For example,
Ann said the test would be easy; she would just blow it away, or
Jim was sure his crew could blow away their opponents. [
Slang; 1960s] Also see
blow off, def. 5.
3. Impress greatly, overwhelm with surprise, delight, or shock, as in
That music really blew me away. [
Slang; c. 1970] Also see
blow one's mind.
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.
blow away
v.1. To be carried or pushed away by the force of moving air: I left the newspaper on the table and it blew away.
2. To carry or push something away by the force of moving air: The wind blows the fallen leaves away. The storm blew away all the laundry from the clothesline.
3. Slang To affect someone intensely in mind or emotion: Your wonderful new poems really blow me away. Their amazing performance blew away every member of the audience.
4. Slang To kill someone, especially with a firearm: The gang entered their rival's hideout, ready to blow away everyone. The thieves threatened to blow me away if I didn't tell them where I hid the money.
5. Slang To defeat someone or something decisively: The confident chess player blew away every challenger. The visiting soccer team was much better than our team and easily blew us away.
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.