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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.

See Examples For:

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

The New York Times, which first reported on the upside-down flag, published a blow-by-blow account of the neighbourhood dispute on Tuesday.

From BBC May 29, 2024

It was painstaking, and sometimes dull, and included a blow-by-blow account about how checks were approved, then cut, then mailed, then signed, then returned.

From Seattle Times May 10, 2024

I’m not prudish, Kitty, and yet every time they give a blow-by-blow account of their trips to the bathroom, which they often do, my whole body rises in revolt.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

No sooner had Sir Jeffrey got to his feet, the loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson began tweeting out proceedings in what he called a "blow by blow account".

From BBC Jan. 29, 2024

During a summer appearance on the “UFC Unfiltered” podcast, Trump recalled his favorite fights from decades ago, blow by blow.

From Seattle Times Dec. 14, 2023

Do not follow up with the blow by blow you’ve presented here.

From Slate Mar. 22, 2020

After Kephart gave Harvill a blow by blow account, Harvill simply replied: “Well you all had a hell of a year anyway. You all will get them next year.”

From Washington Post Dec. 29, 2013

I listened from the dining room while Dad in the kitchen gave Mom the blow by blow of that meeting.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

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