Dictionary

blow off en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see blow, off.
   • In order to deal with deposits of soot on boiler-tubes while running, especially if poor coal is in use, locomotives are often now provided with blowers on the firebox back-plate which can be made to discharge a jet of high pressure steam towards the firebox tubeplates; this has the effect of loosening and blowing off the soot deposits. 1944 May and June, “The Why and the Wherefore: Locomotive Soot Blowers”, in Railway Magazine, page 194:
   • A noteworthy engineering feature on this line was the Owencarrow Viaduct, situated in one of the most windswept portions of the line. On January 30, 1925, a train was blown off the viaduct during a gale, and thereafter trains were prohibited from crossing when the wind exceeded a certain velocity. 1953 October, H. C. Casserley, “Closure of the Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 703:
   • She blew the dust off the cookbook, revealing its full title.
2. (transitive) To vent, usually, to reduce pressure in a container.
   • The radioactivity was released when they blew off steam from the containment vessel.
3. (intransitive, transitive) To let steam escape through a passage provided for the purpose.
   • The 1 in 200 climb to Survilliers was surmounted with easy competence, the constant speed being just short of 60 m.p.h., the water level (by design) just under half a glass and the steam pressure approximately 275 lb/sq in, or near the blowing-off point. 1961 March, 'Balmore', “Driving and firing modern French steam locomotives”, in Trains Illustrated, page 146:
   • The engine or steamer is blowing off.
   • What's the best way to blow off and clean a boiler?
   • From time to time in both directions the engine was blowing off, so there was no shortness of steam. 1956 October, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 688:
4. (transitive) To shirk or disregard (a duty or person).
   • We've both been blowing off Peter all day: he's really boring.
   • I decided to blow off the meeting and leave early.
5. (transitive) To shirk or disregard (a duty or person). ▸ To abandon (someone) as the last stage of a scam.
6. (transitive) To shirk or disregard (a duty or person). ▸ To reject or shut down someone's sexual advances or other offers (e.g. a job offer).
7. (transitive) To forcibly disconnect something by use of a firearm or explosive device.
   • Her leg was blown off by a landmine.
8. (transitive) To force to leave a course.
   • This occurred on September 11, 1880, when a mixed train was blown off the track during a severe gale, and three passengers were killed. 1950 August, “The Rimutaka Incline and Deviation, New Zealand”, in Railway Magazine, page 547:
   • The storm blew the ship off course.
9. (slang, transitive) To perform oral sex on (someone); to give a blowjob to or suck off (someone).
10. (dated, slang, transitive) To buy food or drink for (someone); to treat (someone).
    • I'll blow you off to dinner.
    • I guess the Duchess goes where it’s cheapest, unless she can get her meal paid for. If you offered to blow her off at the Terrasse she’d turn up fast enough. 1905, Edith Wharton, chapter 1, in The House of Mirth, book 2:
11. (slang, transitive) To use up or spend (something).
    • He blew off his inheritance on partying.
12. (slang, transitive) To cause (a body part etc.) to detach by shooting it with a firearm.
    • The gangster blew off the sheriff's head.
13. (Australia, UK, intransitive, slang) Synonym of fart.
    • I can't believe I blew off in church.

Forms

Deriveds

blow-off · blowoff · blowjob · blow off steam

Synonyms

cut the cheese · cut one · pass gas · squeeze one out · let one rip · pump · drop one's guts · dick around · fart · let rip · curmur · grunt · let loose · let fluffy off the chain · poop · rip ass · trump · toot · step on a frog · rip one · bust ass · pass wind · fart · break ass · step on a duck · blow off · cut one loose · crepitate · dick around · badger · flatulate · dick around · guff · let one loose · break wind · let one go · poot · drop a bomb

Translations (18)

de ablassen (pass gas) · sh prdnuti (pass gas) · pl olewać (to shirk or disregard) · pl olać (to shirk or disregard) · sh pustiti vetar (pass gas) · ru испусти́ть газы (pass gas) · pl pierdzieć (pass gas) · fr loufer (pass gas) · fr lâcher une caisse (pass gas) · sh пустити ветар (pass gas) · ru забить (to shirk or disregard) · ja 吹き飛ぶ (pass gas) · fr péter (pass gas) · sh прднути (pass gas) · fr vesser (pass gas) · pl pierdnąć (pass gas) · fr avoir des gaz (pass gas) · es desatender (pass gas)