blow off
Britishverb
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to permit (a gas under pressure, esp steam) to be released
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slang (intr) to emit wind noisily from the anus
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informal (tr) to reject or jilt (someone)
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See steam
noun
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a discharge of a surplus fluid, such as steam, under pressure
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a device through which such a discharge is made
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Vent one's strong feelings; see blow off steam .
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Disregard, ignore; evade something important. For example, If you blow off your homework, you're bound to run into trouble on the exam . [ Slang ; second half of 1900s]
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Overcome, defeat easily, as in With Rob pitching, we'll have no trouble blowing off the opposing team . [ Slang ; 1950s] Also see blow away , def. 2.
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Ignore, abandon, refuse to take part. For example, The college is blowing off our request for a new student center . [ Slang ; mid-1900s]
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.
When I need to blow off steam, I like to go for a bike ride.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 9, 2025
“If Tommy wanted to hit for 15 minutes to build some confidence, blow off steam or take a break from his homework, he could just go outside and do it,” John said.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 1, 2024
"We booked it so we could either celebrate or blow off some steam - a good night out to forget the stress," she says.
From BBC • Aug. 12, 2024
Some people blow off steam by yelling at their television screens.
From Seattle Times • May 10, 2024
He said writing in this book could be my way to blow off steam.
From "The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle" by Dan Gutman
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.
