English Profile

blow · verb

/bləʊ/Full view

blow (WIND)

B1 I If the wind blows, it moves and makes currents of air.

Dictionary example:

The wind was blowing harder every minute.

Learner example:

Sometimes a cool wind blows, [and] Bodrum is like heaven with many handsome boys, different kinds of shops, fresh air and clear sea. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Turkish)

blow (PERSON)

B1 I to force air out through your mouth

Dictionary example:

She blew on her coffee before taking a sip.

blow (SOUND)

C2 I or T to make a sound by forcing air out of your mouth and through an instrument

Dictionary examples:

Ann blew a few notes on the trumpet.

We were all waiting for the referee to blow his whistle.

Learner example:

I had never played an instrument before, but when I put the flute to my mouth and blew, it was as though I had played it all my life and that it had always been mine. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Danish)

blow your nose

B1 to clear your nose by forcing air through it into a piece of paper or cloth

Dictionary example:

He blew his nose loudly.

blow it/your chance(s)

C2 If you blow it or blow your chance, you lose an opportunity to do something by doing or saying the wrong thing.

Dictionary examples:

I blew it when I criticized the way she ran the office.

Tom blew his chances of getting the job by arriving late for the interview.

Learner example:

I'm giving you one last chance. If you blow it, you'll be sent to an Institution which treats people like you. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Portuguese)

blow your mind

C2 If something blows your mind, you are very excited or surprised by it.

Dictionary example:

There was one scene in the film that really blew my mind.

Learner example:

'MOMO', written by Michael Ende, is a book that blew my mind as a child and as an adult, I have read it many times, but the last time has been a while now. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Dutch)

blow away (sth) or blow (sth) away

B1 If something blows away, or if the wind blows something away, that thing moves because the wind blows it.

Dictionary examples:

The letter blew away and I had to run after it.

The wind blew the balloon away and we watched it disappear.

blow down (sth) or blow (sth) down

B1 If something blows down, or if the wind blows something down, that thing falls to the ground because the wind blows it.

Dictionary examples:

Two huge trees had blown down in the storm.

The wind blew our fence down last night.

Learner example:

To make matters worse, the tree that was standing near the bus stop was suddenly blown down by the wind. (First Certificate in English; B2; Polish)

blow out (sth) or blow (sth) out

B1 If a flame blows out, or if you blow it out, it stops burning because you or the wind have blown it.

Dictionary examples:

The candle blew out and we were left in darkness.

She blew out the candles on her birthday cake.

Learner example:

[On my birthday,] I open my presents, blow out candles, play games and more. (Key English Test; A2; Chinese)

blow up (sth/sb) or blow (sth/sb) up

B1 to destroy something or kill someone with a bomb, or to be destroyed or killed by a bomb

Dictionary examples:

They threatened to blow up the plane if their demands were not met.

He drove over a landmine and his jeep blew up.

Learner example:

He said that a bomb had blow[n] up in our hotel and that a lot of people w[ere] injured. (Preliminary English Test; B1; French)

blow up sth or blow sth up

B2 to fill something such as a balloon or tyre with air

Dictionary examples:

I spent the whole morning blowing up balloons for Joe's party.

Can you blow the tyre up for me?

Learner example:

I quickly helped others to decorate the hall - we blew up as many balloons as we c[ould] and sprayed them gold and silver. (First Certificate in English; B2; Japanese)

blow · noun C

/bləʊ/

blow (HIT)

C2 a hard hit with a hand or a weapon

Dictionary example:

They think his death was caused by a blow to the head with an iron bar.

Learner example:

He was really starting to panic when he felt a hard blow to his head. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Spanish)

blow (BAD EVENT)

C2 an unexpected event that has a damaging effect on someone or something

Dictionary example:

Losing his job was a severe blow to his confidence.

Learner example:

Douglas, due to his callousness or because it had been too great a blow for him, was unable to understand or assimilate the fact, so he just went on, doing his duty to his country and his people as before. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Catalan)