blow away
Britishverb
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to kill (someone) by shooting
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to defeat decisively
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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]
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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.
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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 .
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
DoorDash revealed a set of financial results and guidance that didn’t blow away analyst expectations but the stock nonetheless was rallying on Thursday.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
DoorDash revealed a set of financial results and guidance that didn’t blow away analyst expectations but the stock nonetheless was rallying in premarket trade on Thursday.
From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026
Many are ephemeral; fleeting leaf sculptures that blow away into the forest or giant snowballs placed in the city of London which melted to disclose sticks and stones.
From BBC • Feb. 6, 2026
The machine will have to be designed so that the powder won’t blow away when air is pulled through the machine.
From NewsForKids.net • Dec. 4, 2024
I figure it will be there for a long time, and then, someday, it’ll just blow away.
From "When You Reach Me" by Rebecca Stead
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
