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.
Blow out the irrigation lines before the hard frost.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 3, 2021
Blow out the candles and, like an eagle bird, fly home.
From Seattle Times • May 5, 2021
She told him: “Exhale more. More blow. Blow out the fire. That was excellent.”
From New York Times • Aug. 29, 2014
Blow out the Yankee Candles she left lit.
From Slate • May 14, 2013
“I don’t even—” “Well. What are you waiting for? Blow out the candles. Let’s have a piece or two.”
From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner
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.
