blowup

[ bloh-uhp ]

noun

1. an explosion.
2. a violent argument, outburst of temper, or the like, especially one resulting in estrangement.
3. Also blow-up. an enlargement of a photograph.

Word History and Origins

Origin of blowup¹

First recorded in 1800–10; noun use of verb phrase blow up

Example Sentences

The sepia blowups of crab fisherman, outside and in, are especially arresting.

From Washington Post

At first, scarred by the online harassment she endured after the Tinder blowup, Wolfe Herd wanted to make an app where women could give each other compliments.

From Time

Howard Kurtz on how she may have defused the Beijing blowup.

From The Daily Beast

A blowup over a newly minted third party in Florida has become the latest to draw their ire.

From The Daily Beast

For her part, Esters says she hasn't heard from Oprah since the blowup started.

From The Daily Beast

Before the blowup on Earth, the galactics had made occasional landings to gather animals and seeds of food plants.

From Project Gutenberg

Actually we had the answer to protection during the Crazy Years before the blowup when everybody talked peace and built missiles.

From Project Gutenberg

Baker unrolled the first of his exhibits, a large photographic blowup.

From Project Gutenberg

There could be a blowup that would throw Hub politics back into the kind of snarl they haven't been in for a hundred years.

From Project Gutenberg

They had a blowup last night, it seems, and she has stabbed him.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• flare-up
• outburst