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  • blow-by-blow
    blow-by-blow
    adjective
    precisely detailed; describing every minute detail and step.
  • blow by blow
    blow by blow
    Described in minute detail, as in Tell me about last night's party, blow by blow. This term originated in radio broadcasts during the 1930s, in which the sportscaster gave a detailed account of each punch struck in a boxing match. It soon was transferred to a detailed account of anything at all.
Synonyms

blow-by-blow

American  
[bloh-bahy-bloh] / ˈbloʊˌbaɪˈbloʊ /

adjective

  1. precisely detailed; describing every minute detail and step.

    a blow-by-blow account of the tennis match; a blow-by-blow report on the wedding ceremony.


noun

  1. a blow-by-blow account.

blow-by-blow British  

adjective

  1. (prenominal) explained in great detail

    a blow-by-blow account of the argument

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

blow by blow Idioms  
  1. Described in minute detail, as in Tell me about last night's party, blow by blow. This term originated in radio broadcasts during the 1930s, in which the sportscaster gave a detailed account of each punch struck in a boxing match. It soon was transferred to a detailed account of anything at all.


Etymology

Origin of blow-by-blow

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35

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.

Other chapters, however, seem more peripheral, such as those that give blow-by-blow accounts of Russian-Qing diplomacy over the disputed Amur region far to the east of Mongolia.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025

He provides a blow-by-blow account of the days leading up to the ruling’s publication, including internal communications between the judges that, as a rule, are never shared with the public.

From Slate • Nov. 20, 2025

British newspapers carried blow-by-blow accounts of the trial with headlines like 'Mussoorie murder trial', 'hotel mystery' and the 'crystal gazing trial'.

From BBC • Jan. 13, 2024

But if “Fair Play” spends the better part of two hours tracing this newly lopsided romance to its logical, unhappy conclusion, the blow-by-blow machinations are still a chilly wonder to behold.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 27, 2023

I figured my dad was going to give my mom a blow-by-blow of the awkward fencing lesson and all the reasons I should never go back.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

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