Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-
Proto-Indo-European *-eh₁-
Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₁-der.
Proto-Germanic *blēaną
Proto-West Germanic *blāan
Old English blāwan
Middle English blowen
English blow
From Middle English blowen, from Old English blāwan (“to blow, breathe, inflate, sound”), from Proto-West Germanic *blāan, from Proto-Germanic *blēaną (“to blow”) (compare German blähen), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₁- (“to swell, blow up”) (compare Latin flō (“to blow”) and Old Armenian բեղուն (bełun, “fertile”)).
Meanings
Used to express displeasure or frustration.
Blow the expense!
[H]e suddenly flung down his brush on the floor, said 'Bother!' and 'Oh blow!' and also 'Hang spring-cleaning!' and bolted out of the house without even waiting to put on his coat. 1908 October, Kenneth Grahame, “The River Bank”, in The Wind in the Willows, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC, pages 1–2:
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-
Proto-Indo-European *-eh₁-
Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₁-der.
Proto-Germanic *blēaną
Proto-West Germanic *blāan
Old English blāwan
Middle English blowen
English blow
From Middle English blowen, from Old English blāwan (“to blow, breathe, inflate, sound”), from Proto-West Germanic *blāan, from Proto-Germanic *blēaną (“to blow”) (compare German blähen), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₁- (“to swell, blow up”) (compare Latin flō (“to blow”) and Old Armenian բեղուն (bełun, “fertile”)).
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) A strong wind.
We’re having a bit of a blow this afternoon.
Now they were faced with the problem of a northerly blow, which could soon send a heavy swell clean into the bay. 1956 September, F. F. Nicholls, “Neyland, A Forgotten Harbour”, in Railway Magazine, page 632:
(countable, informal, uncountable) A chance to catch one's breath.
The players were able to get a blow during the last timeout.
(US, slang, uncountable) Powder cocaine.
Hey man, you wanna cop some blow? / Sure, what you got, dust, flakes or rocks? 1983, “White Lines (Don't Do It)”, performed by Grandmaster Melle Mel:
I ran out of blow a long time ago / I can't smoke a J or my guts fly away 2023, “Modern Day Ripoff”, in Every Loser, performed by Iggy Pop:
Jesus Christ, George, I don't see you for two years and you show up on my doorstep with 110 pounds of blow. 2001, David McKenna, Blow, spoken by Derek:
Hi there, you're a pretty cute chick, want to snort some blow? 1982, Slava Tsukerman, Anne Carlisle, Nina V. Kerova, Liquid Sky:
(countable, informal, uncountable, vulgar) A blowjob; fellatio.
His girlfriend gave him a blow.
(countable, uncountable) An instance of using high-pressure air to empty water from the ballast tanks of a submarine, increasing the submarine's buoyancy and causing it to surface.
The sounding of the alarm was the signal to begin the emergency blow maneuver. At this time, witnesses reported, the guest at the high-pressure air controls operated the levers under close supervision of Navy personnel, and the submarine started to rise at a sharp angle. 2005 September 29, National Transportation Safety Board, “Emergency Evolutions”, in Marine Accident Brief: Collision between the U.S. Navy Submarine USS Greeneville and Japanese Motor Vessel Ehime Maru near Oahu, Hawaii, 9 February 2001, archived from the original on 25 Mar 2022, page 24:
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-
Proto-Indo-European *-eh₁-
Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₁-der.
Proto-Germanic *blēaną
Proto-West Germanic *blāan
Old English blāwan
Middle English blowen
English blow
From Middle English blowen, from Old English blāwan (“to blow, breathe, inflate, sound”), from Proto-West Germanic *blāan, from Proto-Germanic *blēaną (“to blow”) (compare German blähen), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₁- (“to swell, blow up”) (compare Latin flō (“to blow”) and Old Armenian բեղուն (bełun, “fertile”)).
Meanings
(intransitive) To produce an air current.
Tend to th' Maſters whiſtle: Blow till thou burſt thy winde, if roome enough. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 1, column 1:
Hark how it rains and blows! 1653, Iz[aak] Wa[lton], The Compleat Angler or The Contemplative Man’s Recreation. Being a Discourse of Fish and Fishing, […], London: […] T. Maxey for Rich[ard] Marriot, […], →OCLC; reprinted as The Compleat Angler (Homo Ludens; 6), Nieuwkoop, South Holland, Netherlands: Miland Publishers, 1969, →ISBN:
Lear. Blow windes, & crack your cheeks; Rage, blow / You Cataracts, and Hyrricano's ſpout, c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 296, column 1:
(transitive) To propel by an air current (or, if under water, a water current), usually with the mouth.
Blow the dust off that book and open it up.
To-night the winds begin to rise
And roar from yonder dropping day:
The last red leaf is whirl’d away,
The rooks are blown about the skies; […] 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XV”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 24:
In Koksan County, strong winds blew the roofs off homes, while torrential rains poked holes in or collapsed the walls of houses. 2022 July 6, Kim Chae Hwan, “North Hwanghae Province hit hard by torrential rains”, in Daily NK, archived from the original on 07 Jul 2022:
(intransitive) To be propelled by an air current.
The leaves blow through the streets in the fall.
What stormy weather —the roofs are blowing off!
(figuratively, transitive) To direct or move, usually of a person to a particular location.
"This is an unexpected pleasure!" exclaimed he. "What good fortune blows Lady Marchmont hither?" 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “A Friend at Court”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 260:
(transitive) To create or shape by blowing.
to blow bubbles
Joe puffed on his pipe and blew a couple of smoke rings.
to blow glass
(transitive) To force a current of air upon with the mouth, or by other means.
to blow the fire
(transitive) To clear of contents by forcing air through.
The submarine blew its main ballast tanks.
to blow an egg
to blow one’s nose
If you've ever smelt bad eggs you'll know it's not a nice experience. Blowing them is far worse. 1983, Bill Oddie, Gone Birding, London: Methuen, page 29:
(transitive) To cause to make sound by blowing (as a musical instrument).
Blow your horn! That car is about to hit us!
(intransitive) To make a sound as a result of being blown.
In the harbor, the ships’ horns blew.
There let the pealing organ blow, a. 1645, John Milton, “Il Penseroso”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC, page 43:
(intransitive, of a cetacean) To exhale visibly through the spout the seawater which it has taken in while feeding.
There she blows! (i.e. “I see a whale spouting!”)
Soon after he [a porpoise] appeared again, blowing very hard, but the next moment he turned over; Rasmus was not slow in putting the boat-hook in him and hauling him into the boat with my assistance. 1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 184:
There’s nothing more thrilling to the whale watcher than to see a whale surface and blow.
(intransitive) To burst or explode; to occur suddenly
Get away from that burning gas tank! It’s about to blow!
Hitler is very, very important, and something's going to blow in Europe. 1971, Herman Wouk, The Winds of War, page 12:
(transitive, with "up" or with prepositional phrase headed by "to") To cause to explode, shatter, or be utterly destroyed.
He and my other hunter continued to see it two or three times a week, and to hear its peculiar note much oftener, but could never get a specimen, owing to its always frequenting the most dense thorny thickets, where only hasty glimpses of it could be obtained, and at so short a distance that it would be difficult to avoid blowing the bird to pieces. 1869, Alfred Russel Wallace, The Malay Archipelago, volume II, London: Macmillan and Co., page 136:
The aerosol can was blown to bits.
However, something once happened on the railway there which showed the very best of mankind: heroism, duty, self-sacrifice and calm professionalism under terrible pressure. It is a story which gives us far, far better reasons for remembering this attractive little town, which without these heroes would have been blown to smithereens in a gigantic explosion. (Two railwaymen lost their lives in 1944 when a wagon in an ammunition train caught fire and blew up, an even worse disaster was averted however.) 2022 January 12, Benedict le Vay, “The heroes of Soham...”, in RAIL, number 948, page 42:
The demolition squad neatly blew the old hotel up.
(transitive) To cause the sudden destruction of.
He blew the tires and the engine.
(historical, transitive) To blow from a gun (method of executing a person).
(intransitive) To suddenly fail or give way destructively.
A common problem for double glazed windows (or doors) is mist or condensation between the panes of glass. This is known as a blown window or failed double glazing. But what does it cost to repair? (Can we date this quote?), Checkatrade.com, “Blown windows repair cost guide”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name):
He tried to sprint, but his ligaments blew and he was barely able to walk to the finish line.
(informal, intransitive) Of a vein, to suffer a rupture or puncture in the wall as a result of an injection or cannula, causing fluid (blood, medication, or saline) to leak into the surrounding tissue.
(ergative, of a fuse) To melt away because of overcurrent, creating a gap in a wire, thus stopping a circuit from operating.
(slang, transitive) To recklessly squander.
I blew $35 thou on a car.
I managed to blow $1000 at blackjack in under an hour.
‘Holy Mackerel, Ann! I’m certainly glad we blew ourselves for that outfit of yours.’ 1932, Delos W. Lovelace, King Kong, published 1965, page 136:
We blew an opportunity to get benign corporate sponsorship.
You'd better go / Everything's closed / Can't find a room / Money's all blown / Nowhere to sleep 1985, “Johnny Come Home”, performed by Fine Young Cannibals:
(idiomatic, informal, transitive) To fail at; to mess up; to make a mistake in.
[…] I put myself on the line for you. I told you I wasn't sure if I was ready for a relationship again and you blew it. You blew it! You call this a fresh start? This doesn't look like a fresh start to me. You're dicking me around just like the rest of them, Drew. 2006, Allison Rushby, Hating Valentine's Day, page 148:
I blew it and forgot to start the spaghetti, so I had plenty of sauce and no pasta.
Hodgson’s team attracted a certain amount of sympathy and understanding after the Italy defeat but it was beyond them to play with the same attacking panache and, if there is to be a feat of escapology, it will need an almost implausible combination of results and handouts in the final games of Group D. More realistically, they have blown it in their first week. 2014 June 20, Daniel Taylor, “World Cup 2014: Uruguay sink England as Suárez makes his mark”, in guardian.co.uk:
Good luck, and don’t blow it!
(intransitive, qualifier:sometimes considered vulgar, slang, stative) To be very undesirable.
This blows!
(transitive, vulgar) To perform oral sex on (someone); to fellate.
Who did you have to blow to get those backstage passes?
The mandem all used to go round there and get head off her, the sister blowing the man line by line while her brother shotted downstairs in the stairwell. 2011, “Chyna”, in How I Escaped a Girl Gang: Rolling in a London Girl Gang:
(slang, transitive) To leave, especially suddenly or in a hurry.
It's hard on a fella, when he don't know his way around
If I don't find me a honey to help me spend my money
I'm gonna have to blow this town. 1963, Sam Cooke, “Another Saturday Night”, in Ain't That Good News:
I'm a wanted man and I'm blowing town
Don't waste your time trying to hunt me down 2007, Gus Seyffert, Charlie Wadhams, “Guilty As Charged”, in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, performed by John C. Reilly:
Let’s blow this joint.
(intransitive) To leave the Church of Scientology in an unauthorized manner.
(transitive) To make flyblown; to defile or spoil, especially with fly eggs.
That decision was given an added kick by fury when he found that Podson had left the safe door open, and flies had blown the meat. 1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 78:
Fer. I am, in my condition
A Prince (Miranda) I do thinke a King
(I would not ſo) and would no more endure
This wodden ſlauerie, then to ſuffer
The fleſh-flie blow my mouth: heare my ſoule ſpeake. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], page 11, column 1:
Shall they hoyſt me vp,
And ſhew me to the ſhowting Varlotarie
Of cenſuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt,
Be gentle graue vnto me, rather on Nylus mudde
Lay me ſtarke-nak'd, and let the water-Flies
Blow me into abhorring; c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], page 365, column 1:
(intransitive) (of a fly) To lay eggs; to breed (in flesh or meat).
In Cornwall, a singular mode of curing conger, once prevailed, which was, merely to split the conger in halves, and, without any further preparation, to hang them up in a kind of shambles erected for that purpose, when the flies, blowing on the fish, the progeny would devour all the parts liable to decomposition, whilst the residue, being dried in the sun, became in this manner fit for use: and, when perfectly cured, where exported to Spain and Portugal. There they were ground into powder, and with this preparation, the natives of those Countries used to thicken their soups. 1843, William Hughes(Piscator), Fish, How to Choose and How to Dress, London: Longman, Green, Brown, and Longmans, pages 41–42:
[…]and often after they drop off the punctured skins are the seats of maggots, etc., owing to flies blowing on these injuries. 1921, “The British Veterinary Journal”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), volume 77, Ballière Tindall, page 29:
[…] said the bookseller, “but I cannot risk the expence of your debut - There are critics without as well as within a theatre.” - I know it, said I, interrupting him; “men who, like flies blowing on a piece of wholesome meat, can convert it into carrion - […] 1807, Thomas Pike Lathy, Gabriel Forrester;or, The deserted son. A novel in four volumes, volume 2, London: Lewis and Hamblin, page 77:
(obsolete, transitive) To spread by report; to publish; to disclose.
Through the court his courtesy was blown. 1700, [John] Dryden, “Palamon and Arcite: Or, The Knight’s Tale. In Three Books.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
(obsolete, transitive) To inflate, as with pride; to puff up.
O peace, now he's deepely in: looke how imagination blowes him. c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene v], page 263, column 2:
(intransitive) To breathe hard or quick; to pant; to puff.
Rob. Miſtris Ford, Miſtris Ford: heere's Miſtris Page at the doore, ſsweating, and blowing, and looking wildely, and would needs ſpeake with you preſently. c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii], page 58, column 1:
(transitive) To put out of breath; to cause to blow from fatigue.
(dated, intransitive) To talk loudly; boast; brag.
He didn't just set around and try to out sweettalk^([sic]) somebody; he got out and out-fit somebody. He wouldn't be blowing when he told his boys how he fit for the woman he got. a. 1940, Mildred Haun, “Shin-Bone Rocks”, in The Hawk's Done Gone, page 218:
I don't want the worst characters in hell to be running after me with friendly messages and little testimonials of admiration for Smythe, and blowing about his talents, and bragging on him, and belching their villainous fire and brimstone all through the atmosphere and making my place smell worse than a menagerie. 1866 February 6, Mark Twain, “Remarkable Dream”, in Virginia City Territorial Enterprise:
At the breaking edge with him and completely fed up with his everlasting bragging and blowing about his personal exploits, and desirous of putting him somewhere, anywhere, so they wouldn't be continuously annoyed by him, […] 1969, Charles Ambrose McCarthy, The Great Molly Maguire Hoax, page 113:
Audie never liked him because he was further in with old Craig than he was, bragging and blowing about his work and the things he could do, while Audie sat quiet as a mouse listening to his blab. 1976, David Toulmin, Blown Seed, page 148:
(dated, slang, transitive) To slander, insult, critique or discredit (someone); to reprimand or scold (someone).
(UK, archaic, slang, transitive) To expose, or inform on.
'As for that,' says Will, 'I could tell it well enough, if I had it, but I must not be seen anywhere among my old acquaintances, for I am blown, and they will all betray me.' 1722, Daniel Defoe, Colonel Jack:
(informal, intransitive, qualifier:African-American Vernacular, slang) To sing.
That girl has a wonderful voice; just listen to her blow!
(colloquial, intransitive, slang) To flatulate or defecate.
Uh, oh! I gotta blow!
(transitive) To generate (a reading) on a breath alcohol meter.
ms hembus (to produce an air current) · grc ἄημι (to produce an air current) · sk vyhadzovať (to squander) · mba hiyop (to produce an air current) · es largar (to leave) · pl wiać (to produce an air current) · pl lizać pałę (to fellate) · ro da muie (to fellate) · tk üflemek (to force a current of air upon with the mouth, or by other means) · sq fry (to produce an air current) · pl obciągać chuja (to fellate) · pl zdmuchnąć (to propel by an air current) · ba өрөү (to produce an air current) · pl dmuchać (to produce an air current) · mi pipiha ((of a cetacean) to exhale seawater visibly through the spout) · nl springen (to explode) · ru дуть (to force a current of air upon with the mouth, or by other means) · ga séid (to blow and make give a sound) · es cagar (to suddenly fail destructively) · ru взрыва́ться (to explode) · sa वाति (to produce an air current) · ang blāwan (to blow and make give a sound) · fr bourrer la pipe (to fellate) · yi בלאָזן (to blow and make give a sound) · da blæse (to blow and make give a sound) · fi räjähtää (to explode) · sv blåsa (to be propelled by an air current) · es soplar (to propel by an air current) · fr flamber (to squander) · ru ве́ять (to produce an air current) · vi tẽn tò (to be very undesirable) · gld пиуги- (to produce an air current) · tl hihip (to produce an air current) · mww tshuab (to produce an air current) · ru проду́ть (to squander) · pt assoprar (to propel by an air current) · it esplodere (to explode) · mi kurekure (to make flyblown) · cmn 爆炸 (to explode) · zdj upvuzia (to blow and make give a sound) · sk vyfajčiť (to fellate) · sv blåsa (to create or shape by blowing) · sk hrať (to blow and make give a sound) · ro (o) suge (to fellate) · fr faire chier (to be very undesirable) · sk vanúť (to produce an air current) · nl blazen (to create or shape by blowing) · bg експлодирам (to explode) · sw -puliza (to produce an air current) · fa ساک زدن (to fellate) · enm blowen (to make a sound as if being blown) · lo ພັດ (to produce an air current) · az əsmək (to produce an air current) · rm zuflar (to produce an air current) · fi ottaa suihin (to fellate) · pl robić loda (to fellate) · es soplar (to produce an air current) · rm boffar (to produce an air current) · fi häipyä (to leave) · pt assoprar (to blow and make give a sound) · uk ві́яти (to produce an air current) · vi phù phù (to produce an air current) · tl hihipan (to produce an air current) · fr souffler (to force a current of air upon with the mouth, or by other means) · pl przepuszczać (to squander) · be ве́яць (to produce an air current) · cmn 刮走 (to propel by an air current) · es ir (to leave) · ota اسمك (to produce an air current) · sq fri (to produce an air current) · cs vát (to produce an air current) · zea blaeze (to produce an air current) · la flo (to produce an air current) · da puste (to propel by an air current) · ru продува́ть (to squander) · pt assoprar ((of a cetacean) to exhale seawater visibly through the spout) · hy ծծել (to fellate) · gl soprar (to produce an air current) · tet huu (to produce an air current) · pt explodir (to cause to explode) · ro fi purtat (to be propelled by an air current) · fr être nul (to be very undesirable) · ka უბერავს (to produce an air current) · pl zwiać (to leave) · es soplar (to create or shape by blowing) · fr souffler (to propel by an air current) · de hinfortblasen (to propel by an air current) · gd sèid (to blow and make give a sound) · frr blä (to produce an air current) · dsb duś (to produce an air current) · mn үлээх (to blow and make give a sound) · bg духам (to fellate) · rm bufar (to produce an air current) · da blæse (to produce an air current) · sk nafúknuť (to create or shape by blowing) · tft hio (to produce an air current) · vec supiar (to produce an air current) · sv blåsa (to blow and make give a sound) · de schnäuzen (to blow the nose) · ro cânta la un instrument (to blow and make give a sound) · dsb dunuś (to produce an air current) · fr faire sauter (to cause to explode) · rap puhi (to produce an air current) · uk ду́ти (to produce an air current) · ru взрывать (to cause to explode) · es chupar (to fellate) · tsg huyup (to produce an air current) · fi särkeä (to cause sudden destruction of) · fr se tirer (to leave) · fy waaie (to produce an air current) · pl przepuścić (to squander) · ms tiup (to produce an air current) · qu phukuy (to produce an air current) · da trutte (to blow and make give a sound) · gd sèid ((of a cetacean) to exhale seawater visibly through the spout) · scn xuxari (to produce an air current) · de wegblasen (to propel by an air current) · vi thổi (to produce an air current) · sk fúknuť (to produce an air current) · de hochgehen (to explode) · ru поду́ть (to produce an air current) · yi בלאָזן (to produce an air current) · da blæse (to be propelled by an air current) · fo blása (to produce an air current) · da sprænge (to explode) · su tiup (to produce an air current) · mi pongipongi (to be propelled by an air current) · tr üflemek (to produce an air current) · nl doorjagen (to squander) · ru взорва́ться (to explode) · fi räjäyttää (to cause to explode) · fr souffler (to blow and make give a sound) · mi whengu (to blow the nose) · ru дуть (to blow and make give a sound) · ru пове́ять (to produce an air current) · enm blowen (to force a current of air upon with the mouth, or by other means) · ja 吹く (to produce an air current) · os дымын (to produce an air current) · pl dmuchać (to blow and make give a sound) · ang blāwan (to produce an air current) · tr esmek (to produce an air current) · sk vyhodiť (to squander) · sk fajčiť (to fellate) · sk duť (to produce an air current) · pt ser soprado (to be propelled by an air current) · pt bufar (to produce an air current) · ro fluiera (to make a sound as if being blown) · mi pūawhe (to propel by an air current) · bcl hayop (to produce an air current) · km បក់ (to produce an air current) · ru выдува́ть (to create or shape by blowing) · zlw-ocs dúti (to produce an air current) · pt sair (to leave) · fr souffler (to create or shape by blowing) · de fortblasen (to propel by an air current) · es apestar (to be very undesirable) · de pusten (to propel by an air current) · pt estourar (to explode) · lt pūsti (to produce an air current) · sk trúbiť (to make a sound as if being blown) · ca bufar (to produce an air current) · sh púhnuti (to produce an air current) · rm buffar (to produce an air current) · sk nafukovať (to create or shape by blowing) · fi polttaa (to cause sudden destruction of) · pl dmuchnąć (to blow and make give a sound) · sh dúvati (to produce an air current) · he תָּקַע (to blow and make give a sound) · vi phun nước ((of a cetacean) to exhale seawater visibly through the spout) · fi puhaltaa (to propel by an air current) · fr souffler (to produce an air current) · pap supla (to produce an air current) · fr se casser (to leave) · hy փչել (to propel by an air current) · mnc ᡝᡩᡠᠨ ᡩᠠᠮᠪᡳ (to produce an air current) · el πιπώνω (to fellate) · mk дудла (to fellate) · gd sèid (to make a sound as if being blown) · nl blazen (to produce an air current) · fi puhaltaa (to produce an air current) · pt soprar (to propel by an air current) · de in die Luft gehen (to explode) · es arruinar (to suddenly fail destructively) · kk үрлеу (to produce an air current) · vi thổi (to create or shape by blowing) · zdj hura (to produce an air current) · mi pongipongi (to propel by an air current) · ru ду́нуть (to produce an air current) · lv sprāgt (to explode) · da puste (to produce an air current) · fr sauter (to explode) · be дуць (to produce an air current) · evn эдынми (to produce an air current) · bg ду́хам (to produce an air current) · scn sciusciari (to produce an air current) · ml ഊതുക (to blow and make give a sound) · qu wayray (to produce an air current) · ga séid (to be propelled by an air current) · gd sèid (to produce an air current) · az üfürmək (to produce an air current) · ru вы́дуть (to create or shape by blowing) · pt jogar fora (to squander) · es bufar (to produce an air current) · fi rikkoutua (to suddenly fail destructively) · ky эсүү (to produce an air current) · alt эзер (to produce an air current) · ln fembe (to blow the nose) · pl zwiewać (to leave) · fi olla syvältä (to be very undesirable) · ml ഊതുക (to force a current of air upon with the mouth, or by other means) · fr péter (to explode) · rup suflu (to produce an air current) · vi thổi (to propel by an air current) · fi soittaa (to blow and make give a sound) · sk fúknuť (to force a current of air upon with the mouth, or by other means) · bcl huyop (to produce an air current) · cmn 吹氣 /吹气 (to create or shape by blowing) · io suflesar (to be propelled by an air current) · ro șuiera (to make a sound as if being blown) · ru отсоса́ть (to fellate) · sh dúhati (to produce an air current) · ba иҫеү (to produce an air current) · it soffiare (to produce an air current) · be дзьму́хаць (to produce an air current) · sv blåsa ((of a cetacean) to exhale seawater visibly through the spout) · fr jouer (de) (to blow and make give a sound) · sh пу́вати (to produce an air current) · pl dąć (to blow and make give a sound) · hy փչել (to produce an air current) · ca llepar (to fellate) · ru сдуть (to propel by an air current) · ka შეუბერავს (to produce an air current) · mn салхилах (to produce an air current) · de blasen (to fellate) · fur soflâ (to produce an air current) · io suflar (to propel by an air current) · hy պայթել (to explode) · lv pūst (to produce an air current) · ko 뿜다 ((of a cetacean) to exhale seawater visibly through the spout) · fi törsätä (to squander) · fa وزیدن (to produce an air current) · ltg pyust (to produce an air current) · nl pijpen (to fellate) · my မှုတ် (to produce an air current) · ru дуть (to produce an air current) · vi phung phí (to squander) · ru сморкну́ться pf blow the nose (to produce an air current) · oc bufar (to produce an air current) · fy blaze (to produce an air current) · mnc ᡝᡩᡠᠮᠪᡳ (to produce an air current) · sh pȕšiti (to fellate) · hil huyop (to produce an air current) · sv blåsa (to produce an air current) · fi suihkuttaa ((of a cetacean) to exhale seawater visibly through the spout) · ga séid (to create or shape by blowing) · it far saltare (to cause sudden destruction of) · ka ქრის (to produce an air current) · bg ве́я (to produce an air current) · fi palaa (to suddenly fail destructively) · mk пуши (to fellate) · sk fúkať (to produce an air current) · fi särkyä (to suddenly fail destructively) · da blæse (to propel by an air current) · mn үлээх (to force a current of air upon with the mouth, or by other means) · mnc ᡶᡠᠯᡤᡳᠶᡝᠮᠪᡳ (to produce an air current) · es cagar (to squander) · sh пу̏шити (to fellate) · scn susciari (to produce an air current) · fr tailler une pipe (to fellate) · ko 제기랄 (to be very undesirable) · ko 불다 (to create or shape by blowing) · vi nổ (to explode) · ru взлете́ть на во́здух (to explode) · he ניפח (to create or shape by blowing) · de wehen (to produce an air current) · mi ihi (to produce an air current) · sk fúkať (to force a current of air upon with the mouth, or by other means) · cy chwythu (to produce an air current) · nl spuiten ((of a cetacean) to exhale seawater visibly through the spout) · ko 아양떨다 (to fellate) · fi lennähtää (to be propelled by an air current) · pl dąć (to produce an air current) · sq fryj (to force a current of air upon with the mouth, or by other means) · ru сморка́ться (to produce an air current) · enm blowen (to be propelled by an air current) · sh púvati (to produce an air current) · ru сдува́ть (to propel by an air current) · fi tuhlata (to squander) · io suflar (to produce an air current) · evn хувдеми (to produce an air current) · ko 터지다 (to explode) · mrw iop (to produce an air current) · ko 날리다 (to squander) · kk соғу (to produce an air current) · mi whengu (to force a current of air upon with the mouth, or by other means) · ko 그만두다 (to leave) · mk се распрснува (to explode) · scn ciuciari (to produce an air current) · pox blozăt (to produce an air current) · pt chupar (to fellate) · mk дува (to produce an air current) · he התפוצץ (to explode) · vi bú cu (to fellate) · pl wybuchać (to explode) · srn bro (to produce an air current) · nl blazen (to propel by an air current) · cs foukat (to produce an air current) · ko 불리다 (to be propelled by an air current) · vi bỏ đi (to leave) · rm zufler (to produce an air current) · vec sufiar (to produce an air current) · vi tẽn (to be very undesirable) · cmn 離開 /离开 (to leave) · sh пу́хати (to produce an air current) · cmn 喘氣 /喘气 ((of a cetacean) to exhale seawater visibly through the spout) · fr exploser en vol (to suddenly fail destructively) · sl pihati (to produce an air current) · mpi swe (to produce an air current) · ckb فو (to produce an air current) · af blaas (to produce an air current) · rm sufflar (to produce an air current) · ro umfla (to create or shape by blowing) · pl obciągać loda (to fellate) · pt ser uma porcaria (to be very undesirable) · de explodieren (to explode) · cmn 浪費 /浪费 (to squander) · fi rikkoa (to cause sudden destruction of) · cs vanout (to produce an air current) · zza fêlen (to produce an air current) · th พัด (to produce an air current) · la sufflo (to produce an air current) · is blása (to produce an air current) · uz esmoq (to produce an air current) · akl huyop (to produce an air current) · tr üflemek (to force a current of air upon with the mouth, or by other means) · sh ду́хати (to produce an air current) · mi pupuha ((of a cetacean) to exhale seawater visibly through the spout) · pt explodir (to explode) · msk oyop (to produce an air current) · vi xài phí (to squander) · ko 불다 (to propel by an air current) · mi pūawhe (to be propelled by an air current) · ko 불다 (to produce an air current) · es reventar (to cause sudden destruction of) · ro face muie (to fellate) · rm sofflar (to produce an air current) · nb blåse (to produce an air current) · el φυσώ (to produce an air current) · mi pūkeru (to force a current of air upon with the mouth, or by other means) · es mamar (to fellate) · sh пу́хнути (to produce an air current) · fr claquer (to squander) · de pusten (to produce an air current) · cmn 吹 (to produce an air current) · fi puhaltaa (to blow and make give a sound) · ru соса́ть (to fellate) · fi puhaltaa ((of a cetacean) to exhale seawater visibly through the spout) · ky согуу (to produce an air current) · vi thẹn thò (to be very undesirable) · id tiup (to produce an air current) · pl obciągać fiuta (to fellate) · cmn 隨風飄動 /随风飘动 (to be propelled by an air current) · ofs blā (to produce an air current) · mi paute ((of a cetacean) to exhale seawater visibly through the spout) · bg взривявам се (to explode) · mk дува (to create or shape by blowing) · vi bay (to be propelled by an air current) · pt ser uma merda (to be very undesirable) · sh púhati (to produce an air current) · fi soida (to make a sound as if being blown) · nl waaien (to produce an air current) · de blasen (to propel by an air current) · el παίρνω πίπα (to fellate) · hu fúj (to produce an air current) · ru взорвать (to cause to explode) · pl wybuchnąć (to explode) · pl zadąć (to blow and make give a sound) · ceb huyop (to produce an air current) · fi lennellä (to be propelled by an air current) · gld пу- (to produce an air current) · pt vazar (to leave) · ia sufflar (to produce an air current) · sk rupnúť (to suddenly fail destructively) · gd sèid (to propel by an air current) · sk niesť sa (to be propelled by an air current) · cmn 搞砸 (to be very undesirable) · sv spränga (to cause to explode) · fr mettre les voiles (to leave) · de blasen (to produce an air current) · vi thẹn (to be very undesirable) · ru относи́ть (to be propelled by an air current) · el τσιμπουκώνω (to fellate) · pt ser ruim (to be very undesirable) · de wegpusten (to propel by an air current) · fr péter (to cause sudden destruction of) · ga séid (to produce an air current) · pt assoprar (to create or shape by blowing) · fr moucher (to blow the nose) · sk letieť (to be propelled by an air current) · zza pıf kerden (to produce an air current) · fa دمیدن (to blow and make give a sound) · scn ciusciari (to produce an air current) · sh ду́вати (to produce an air current) · be дзьмуць (to produce an air current) · fi lentää (to be propelled by an air current) · eo blovi (to produce an air current) · afb هف (to produce an air current) · cmn 颳 /刮 (to produce an air current) · vi thở (to propel by an air current) · fr sucer (to fellate) · vi chuồn (to leave) · uk дму́хати (to produce an air current) · pt detonar (to cause sudden destruction of) · tk öwüsmek (to produce an air current) · ast soplar (to produce an air current) · fr pomper le dard (to fellate) · pt assoprar (to produce an air current) · ga séid (to propel by an air current) · pt soprar (to produce an air current) · vi phù (to produce an air current) · ka დაუბერავს (to produce an air current) · enm blowen (to produce an air current) · la vexātor (to fellate) · de wehen (to be propelled by an air current) · ja 爆発する (to explode) · av пузе (to produce an air current) · pt assoprar (to make a sound as if being blown) · pt estourar (to cause to explode) · fi puhaltaa (to create or shape by blowing) · ar نَفَخَ (to produce an air current) · sk trúbiť (to blow and make give a sound) · sv snyta (to blow the nose) · ru взлета́ть на во́здух (to explode) · ro sufla (to produce an air current) · nl ontploffen (to explode) · mk се вее (to be propelled by an air current) · mn үлээх (to produce an air current) · sv suga av (to fellate)
From Middle English blo, bloo, from Old English blāw (“blue”), from Proto-Germanic *blēwaz (“blue, dark blue, grey, black”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰlēw- (“yellow, blond, grey”). Cognate with Latin flavus (“yellow”). Doublet of blue.
From Middle English blowe, blaw, northern variant of blēwe, from Proto-Germanic *blewwaną (“to beat”) (compare Old Norse blegði (“wedge”), German einbläuen, Middle Dutch blouwen). Related to block.
Meanings
An instance of the act of striking or hitting.
During an exchange to end round 13, Duran landed a blow to the midsection.
A fabricator is used to direct a sharp blow to the surface of the stone.
A sudden or forcible act or effort; an assault.
There he found that […] Hanno's camp was crowded with cattle and carriages, and a mixed multitude of unarmed men, and even of women and children; and that a vigorous blow might win it with all its spoil: the indefatigable general was absent, scouring the country for additional supplies of corn. 1843, Thomas Arnold, “Progress of the War in Italy after the Battle of Cannæ. […]”, in J[ulius] C[harles] Hare, editor, History of Rome, volume III (From the End of the First to the End of the Second Punic War), London: B. Fellowes; […], →OCLC, page 227:
A damaging occurrence.
Norwich returned to second in the Championship with victory over Nottingham Forest, whose promotion hopes were dealt another blow. 2011 April 15, Saj Chowdhury, “Norwich 2 - 1 Nott'm Forest”, in BBC Sport:
A further blow to the group came in 1917 when Thomson died while canoeing in Algonquin Park.
a most poor man, made tame to fortune's blows c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vi]:
(Australia, historical, qualifier:shearing) A cut made to a sheep's fleece by a shearer using hand-shears.
Click goes his shears; click, click, click. / Wide are the blows, and his hand is moving quick, / The ringer looks round, for he lost it by a blow, / And he curses that old shearer with the bare belled ewe. 1891 December 5, The Bacchus Marsh Express, Victoria, page 7, column 7:
(Australia, New-Zealand) An outcrop of quartz from surrounding rock, thought to indicate mineral deposits below.
"Blows" of quartz, crop out above the layers of slate, granite, and sandstone formation. 1887, Harriet W. Daly, Digging, Squatting, and Pioneering Life in the Northern Territory of South Australia, page 315:
Synonym of button (“the punchy or suspenseful line of dialogue that concludes a scene”).
The blow is important because it transitions the reader and eventually the audience from one scene to another. 2014, Martie Cook, Write to TV: Out of Your Head and onto the Screen, page 105:
mi tarawete (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · nl slag (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · izh isku (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · eo frapo (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · bn সদমা (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · uk уда́р (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · te వేటు (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · mh bait (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · enm swynge (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · la plāga (damaging occurrence) · izh nappu (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · sk rana (damaging occurrence) · mi paotanga (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · got 𐍃𐌻𐌰𐌷𐍃 (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · egy V6:z-m-F27-Z1 (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · hy հարված (damaging occurrence) · fr coup (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · el χτύπημα (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · gd beum (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · it colpo (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · ky сокку (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · io frapo (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · ang sleġe (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · ru уда́р (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · mt daqqa (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · te దెబ్బ (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · pt golpe (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · nn slag (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · gd buille (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · gl golpe (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · ca cop (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · de Schlag (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · hy հարված (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · ca cop (damaging occurrence) · mi patunga (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · eo bato (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · prg brukis (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · es varapalo (damaging occurrence) · sh ȕdār (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · ar ضَرْبَة (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · ro lovitură (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · izh napsu (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · rm frida (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · sk úder (damaging occurrence) · mk удар (damaging occurrence) · be уда́р (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · el χτύπημα (damaging occurrence) · fr coup (damaging occurrence) · de Rückschlag (damaging occurrence) · rm cuolp (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · pl uderzenie (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · mk удар (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · es mazazo (damaging occurrence) · az zərbə (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · it botta (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · sl udarec (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · nl tegenslag (damaging occurrence) · ru уда́р (damaging occurrence) · te దెబ్బ (damaging occurrence) · hu csapás (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · eu kolpe (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · uk уда́р (damaging occurrence) · es golpe (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · nb slag (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · rm freida (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · gd bualadh (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · es coñazo (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · la plāga (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · az zərbə (damaging occurrence) · sv slag (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · ga cíonán (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · izh tiltukkain (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · az vuruş (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · el πλήγμα (damaging occurrence) · cs úder (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · sk úder (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · pdt Schlach (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · pt desgraça (damaging occurrence) · pl cios (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · bg у́дар (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · sw panchi (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · fi isku (damaging occurrence) · ga béim (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · grc πληγή (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · sk rana (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · fi takaisku (damaging occurrence) · pl cios (damaging occurrence) · el πλήγμα (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · ga clabhta (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · sh у̏да̄р (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · es golpe (damaging occurrence) · fi isku (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · sv slag (damaging occurrence) · grc πλῆγμα (instance of the act of striking or hitting) · sw panchi (damaging occurrence) · nl slag (damaging occurrence)
From Middle English blowen, from Old English blōwan, from Proto-Germanic *blōaną (compare Dutch bloeien, German blühen), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₃- (compare Latin florēre (“to bloom”)).
Meanings
A state of flowering; a bloom.
roses in full blow
[F]lowers that in perennial blow / Round the moist marge of Persian fountains cling; […] 1820, William Wordsworth, “The River Duddon. A Series of Sonnets. Sonnet I.”, in The River Duddon: A Series of Sonnets: Vaudracour and Julia; and Other Poems. […], London: […] [Andrew and Robert Spottiswoode] for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, & Brown, […], →OCLC, page 3:
A display or mass of flowers; a yield.
[H]e believed he could shew me such a blow of tulips as was not to be matched in the whole country. 1710 September 10 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac Bickerstaff [et al., pseudonyms; Joseph Addison], “Wednesday, August 31, 1710”, in The Tatler, number 218; republished in [Richard Steele], editor, The Tatler, […], London stereotype edition, volume III, London: I. Walker and Co.; […], 1822, →OCLC, page 212:
Passing the apple-tree blows of white and pink in the orchards; / Carrying a corpse to where it shall rest in the grave, / Night and day journeys a coffin. 1865 (indicated as 1865–1866), Walt Whitman, “When Lilacs Last in the Door-yard Bloom’d”, in Sequel to Drum-Taps. […] When Lilacs Last in the Door-yard Bloom’d. And Other Pieces, Washington, D.C.: Gibson Brothers, […], →OCLC, canto 5, stanza 8, page 4:
(figuratively) A display of anything bright or brilliant.
fi kukkaloisto (display or mass of flowers) · fr floraison (state of flowering — see also bloom) · fi loisto (display of anything bright or brilliant) · fi kukinta (state of flowering — see also bloom) · fi loisto (state of flowering — see also bloom) · sv blom (state of flowering — see also bloom) · sv blom (display or mass of flowers)
From Middle English blowen, from Old English blōwan, from Proto-Germanic *blōaną (compare Dutch bloeien, German blühen), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₃- (compare Latin florēre (“to bloom”)).
Meanings
To blossom; to cause to bloom or blossom.
No joy the blowing season gives,
The herald melodies of spring,
But in the songs I love to sing
A doubtful gleam of solace lives. 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXXVIII”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 59:
Romanesco is slow to blow and more forgiving to grow than most cauliflowers, while being perhaps the most delicious and certainly the nuttiest-flavoured of the lot. 2015 January 26, Mark Diacono, “How to grow and cook cauliflower, 2015's trendiest veg”, in The Daily Telegraph (Gardening):
You ſeeme to me as Diane in her Orbe, / As chaſte as is the budde ere it be blowne: 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], page 114, column 2:
Boys are at best but pretty buds unblown, / Whose scent and hues are rather guessed than known; 1784, William Cowper, Tirocinium; or, A Review of Schools:
How blows the citron grove. 1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
Irám indeed is gone with all its Rose,
And Jamshýd's Sev'n-ring'd Cup where no one knows;
But still the Vine her ancient Ruby yields,
And still a Garden by the Water blows. 1859, Edward Fitzgerald, The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám: The Astronomer-Poet of Persia, page 2: