blow out
Britishverb
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to extinguish (a flame, candle, etc) or (of a flame, candle, etc) to become extinguished
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(intr) (of a tyre) to puncture suddenly, esp at high speed
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(intr) (of a fuse) to melt suddenly
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(tr; often reflexive) to diminish or use up the energy of
the storm blew itself out
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(intr) (of an oil or gas well) to lose oil or gas in an uncontrolled manner
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slang (tr) to cancel
the band had to blow out the gig
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to kill oneself by shooting oneself in the head
noun
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the sudden melting of an electrical fuse
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a sudden burst in a tyre
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the uncontrolled escape of oil or gas from an oil or gas well
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the failure of a jet engine, esp when in flight
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slang a large filling meal or lavish entertainment
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Extinguish, especially a flame. For example, The wind blew out the candles very quickly . [1300s]
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Lose force or cease entirely, as in The storm will soon blow itself out and move out to sea . Also see blow over .
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Burst or rupture suddenly, as in This tire is about to blow out . This usage alludes to the escape of air under pressure. [Early 1900s]
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Also, blow out of the water . Defeat decisively, as in With a great new product and excellent publicity, we could blow the competition out of the water . This term originally was used in mid-19th-century naval warfare, where it meant to blast or shoot another vessel to pieces. It later was transferred to athletic and other kinds of defeat. [ 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.
Fists on his hips, Clare blew out his breath in a slow stream.
From Literature
On 27 March, as Suryavanshi blows out the candles, the question quietly turns on its head: not whether he is ready - but whether the world is.
From BBC
On the car past the calliope a Farmer’s Friend wind stacker blew out circulars and handbills instead of chaff.
From Literature
Duke, the 2026 top overall seed, has a score of 38.90—meaning the Blue Devils would be expected to blow out a team by nearly 39 points over 100 possessions.
When a light bulb blows out or pieces fall over, they hike up to do repairs.
From Literature
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.
