blow-in

adjective
1.
(of a piece of advertising) inserted in but not attached to a magazine or newspaper:
blow-in cards.

blow2

[bloh] /bloʊ/
verb (used without object), blew, blown, blowing.
1.
(of the wind or air) to be in motion.
2.
to move along, carried by or as by the wind:
Dust seemed to blow through every crack in the house.
3.
to produce or emit a current of air, as with the mouth or a bellows:
Blow on your hands to warm them.
4.
(of a horn, trumpet, etc.) to give out sound.
5.
to make a blowing sound; whistle:
The siren blew just as we rounded the corner.
6.
(of horses) to breathe hard or quickly; pant.
7.
Informal. to boast; brag:
He kept blowing about his medals.
8.
Zoology. (of a whale) to spout.
9.
(of a fuse, light bulb, vacuum tube, tire, etc.) to burst, melt, stop functioning, or be destroyed by exploding, overloading, etc. (often followed by out):
A fuse blew just as we sat down to dinner. The rear tire blew out.
10.
to burst from internal pressure:
Poorly sealed cans will often blow.
11.
Slang. to leave; depart.
verb (used with object), blew, blown, blowing.
12.
to drive by means of a current of air:
A sudden breeze blew the smoke into the house.
13.
to spread or make widely known:
Growing panic blew the rumor about.
14.
to drive a current of air upon.
15.
to clear or empty by forcing air through:
Try blowing your nose.
16.
to shape (glass, smoke, etc.) with a current of air:
to blow smoke rings.
17.
to cause to sound, as by a current of air:
Blow your horn at the next crossing.
18.
Jazz. to play (a musical instrument of any kind).
19.
to cause to explode (often followed by up, to bits, etc.):
A mine blew the ship to bits.
20.
to burst, melt, burn out, or destroy by exploding, overloading, etc. (often followed by out):
to blow a tire; blow a fuse.
21.
to destroy; demolish (usually followed by down, over, etc.):
The windstorm blew down his house.
22.
Informal.
  1. to spend money on.
  2. to squander; spend quickly:
    He blew a fortune on racing cars.
  3. to waste; lose:
    The team blew the lead by making a bad play.
23.
Informal. to mishandle, ruin, botch; make a mess of; bungle:
With one stupid mistake he blew the whole project. It was your last chance and you blew it!
24.
Slang. to damn:
Blow the cost!
25.
to put (a horse) out of breath by fatigue.
26.
Slang. to depart from:
to blow town.
27.
Slang: Vulgar. to perform fellatio on.
28.
Slang. to smoke (marijuana or other drugs).
noun
29.
a blast of air or wind:
to clean machinery with a blow.
30.
Informal. a violent windstorm, gale, hurricane, or the like:
one of the worst blows we ever had around here.
31.
an act of producing a blast of air, as in playing a wind instrument:
a few discordant blows by the bugler.
32.
Metallurgy.
  1. a blast of air forced through a converter, as in the production of steel or copper.
  2. the stage of the production process during which this blast is used.
33.
Civil Engineering, boil1 (def 12).
34.
Slang. cocaine.
Verb phrases
35.
blow away, Slang.
  1. to kill, especially by gunfire:
    The gang threatened to blow away anyone who talked to the police.
  2. to defeat decisively; trounce:
    She blew her opponent away in three straight sets.
  3. to overwhelm with emotion, astonishment, etc.:
    Good poetry just blows me away.
36.
blow down, Metallurgy. to suspend working of (a blast furnace) by smelting the existing charge with a diminishing blast.
37.
blow in,
  1. Slang. to arrive at a place, especially unexpectedly:
    My uncle just blew in from Sacramento.
  2. Metallurgy. to begin operations in (a blast furnace).
38.
blow off,
  1. to allow steam to be released.
  2. Informal. to reduce or release tension, as by loud talking.
  3. Informal. to ignore, evade, or treat as unimportant:
    I mentioned his insulting remark, and he just blew the whole thing off.
  4. Informal. to not go to or participate in:
    He blew off his first-period class three times that week.
  5. Informal. to fail to meet (someone) as planned without alerting the person beforehand:
    I waited 20 minutes before I realized my sister had blown me off.
  6. Informal. to end a romantic or other relationship with:
    He blew me off after our third date.
39.
blow out,
  1. to become extinguished:
    The candles blew out at once.
  2. to lose force or cease:
    The storm has blown itself out.
  3. (of an oil or gas well) to lose oil or gas uncontrollably.
  4. Metallurgy. to blow down and clean (a blast furnace) in order to shut down.
40.
blow over,
  1. to pass away; subside:
    The storm blew over in five minutes.
  2. to be forgotten:
    The scandal will eventually blow over.
41.
blow up,
  1. to come into being:
    A storm suddenly blew up.
  2. to explode:
    The ship blew up.
  3. to cause to explode:
    to blow up a bridge.
  4. to exaggerate; enlarge:
    He blew up his own role in his account of the project.
  5. Informal. to lose one's temper:
    When he heard she had quit school, he blew up.
  6. to fill with air; inflate:
    to blow up a tire.
  7. Photography. to make an enlarged reproduction of.
  8. Mathematics. (of a function) to become infinite.
Idioms
42.
blow hot and cold, to favor something at first and reject it later on; waver; vacillate:
His enthusiasm for the job blows hot and cold.
43.
blow off steam, Informal. steam (def 23).
Also, let off steam.
44.
blow one's cool, Slang. to lose one's composure; become angry, frantic, or flustered.
45.
blow one's cover. cover (def 52).
46.
blow one's lines, Theater. to forget or make an error in a speaking part or stage directions.
47.
blow one's mind. mind (def 36).
48.
blow one's stack. stack (def 23).
49.
blow one's top. top1 (def 43).
Origin
before 1000; Middle English blowen (v.), Old English blāwan; cognate with Latin flāre to blow
British Dictionary definitions for blow in

blow in

verb
1.
(intransitive, adverb) (informal) to arrive or enter suddenly

blow1

/bləʊ/
verb blows, blowing, blew, blown
1.
(of a current of air, the wind, etc) to be or cause to be in motion
2.
(intransitive) to move or be carried by or as if by wind or air: a feather blew in through the window
3.
to expel (air, cigarette smoke, etc) through the mouth or nose
4.
to force or cause (air, dust, etc) to move (into, in, over, etc) by using an instrument or by expelling breath
5.
(intransitive) to breathe hard; pant
6.
(sometimes foll by up) to inflate with air or the breath
7.
(intransitive) (of wind, a storm, etc) to make a roaring or whistling sound
8.
to cause (a whistle, siren, etc) to sound by forcing air into it, as a signal, or (of a whistle, etc) to sound thus
9.
(transitive) to force air from the lungs through (the nose) to clear out mucus or obstructing matter
10.
often foll by up, down, in, etc. to explode, break, or disintegrate completely: the bridge blew down in the gale
11.
(electronics) to burn out (a fuse, valve, etc) because of excessive current or (of a fuse, valve, etc) to burn out
12.
(slang) blow a fuse, to lose one's temper
13.
(intransitive) (of a whale) to spout water or air from the lungs
14.
(transitive) to wind (a horse) by making it run excessively
15.
to cause (a wind instrument) to sound by forcing one's breath into the mouthpiece, or (of such an instrument) to sound in this way
16.
(intransitive) (jazz, slang) to play in a jam session
17.
(intransitive) (of flies) to lay eggs (in)
18.
to shape (glass, ornaments, etc) by forcing air or gas through the material when molten
19.
(intransitive) (mainly Scot & Austral, NZ) to boast or brag
20.
(transitive) (slang)
  1. to spend (money) freely
  2. (US) to treat or entertain
21.
(transitive) (slang) to use (an opportunity) ineffectively
22.
(slang) to go suddenly away (from)
23.
(transitive) (slang) to expose or betray (a person or thing meant to be kept secret)
24.
(transitive) (US, slang) to inhale (a drug)
25.
(intransitive) (slang) to masturbate
26.
(informal) (past part) blowed another word for damn I'll be blowed, blow it!
27.
(draughts) another word for huff (sense 4)
28.
blow hot and cold, to vacillate
29.
blow a kiss, blow kisses, to kiss one's hand, then blow across it as if to carry the kiss through the air to another person
30.
blow one's own trumpet, to boast of one's own skills or good qualities
31.
(slang) blow someone's mind
  1. (of a drug, esp LSD) to alter someone's mental state
  2. especially (US & Canadian) to astound or surprise someone
32.
(informal) blow one's top, especially (US & Canadian) blow one's stack, blow one's lid, to lose one's temper
noun
33.
the act or an instance of blowing
34.
the sound produced by blowing
35.
a blast of air or wind
36.
(metallurgy)
  1. a stage in the Bessemer process in which air is blasted upwards through molten pig iron
  2. the quantity of metal treated in a Bessemer converter
37.
(mining)
  1. a rush of air into a mine
  2. the collapse of a mine roof
38.
(jazz, slang) a jam session
39.
  1. (Brit) a slang name for cannabis (sense 2)
  2. (US) a slang name for cocaine
See also blow away, blow in, blow into, blow off, blow on, blow out, blow over, blow through, blow up
Word Origin
Old English blāwan, related to Old Norse blǣr gust of wind, Old High German blāen, Latin flāre

blow2

/bləʊ/
noun
1.
a powerful or heavy stroke with the fist, a weapon, etc
2.
at one blow, at a blow, by or with only one action; all at one time
3.
a sudden setback; unfortunate event: to come as a blow
4.
come to blows
  1. to fight
  2. to result in a fight
5.
an attacking action: a blow for freedom
6.
(Austral & NZ) a stroke of the shears in sheep-shearing
Word Origin
C15: probably of Germanic origin; compare Old High German bliuwan to beat

blow3

/bləʊ/
verb blows, blowing, blew, blown
1.
(intransitive) (of a plant or flower) to blossom or open out
2.
(transitive) to produce (flowers)
noun
3.
a mass of blossoms
4.
the state or period of blossoming (esp in the phrase in full blow)
Word Origin
Old English blōwan; related to Old Frisian blōia to bloom, Old High German bluoen, Latin flōs flower; see bloom1

blow-in

noun
1.
(Austral & Irish, informal) an unwelcome newcomer or stranger
Word Origin and History for blow in

blow

v.

"move air," Old English blawan "blow, breathe, make an air current; kindle; inflate; sound a wind instrument" (class VII strong verb; past tense bleow, past participle blawen), from Proto-Germanic *blæ-anan (cf. Old High German blaen, German blähen), from PIE *bhle- "to swell, blow up" (cf. Latin flare "to blow"), possibly identical with *bhel- (2) "to blow, swell" (see bole).

Meaning "to squander" (of money) is from 1874. Sense of "depart suddenly" is from 1902. Slang "do fellatio on" sense is from 1933, as blow (someone) off, originally among prostitutes (cf. blow job). This usage probably is not connected to the colloquial imprecation (1781, associated with sailors, e.g. Popeye's "well, blow me down!"), which has past participle blowed. Meaning "to spend (money) foolishly and all at once" is 1890s; that of "bungle an opportunity" is from 1943. To blow over "pass" is from 1610s, originally of storms. To blow (someone's) mind was in use by 1967; there is a song title "Blow Your Mind" released in a 1965 Mirawood recording by a group called The Gas Company.

"to bloom, blossom" (intransitive), from Old English blowan "to flower, blossom, flourish," from Proto-Germanic *blæ- (cf. Old Saxon bloian, Old Frisian bloia, Middle Dutch and Dutch bloeien, Old High German bluoen, German blühen), from PIE *bhle-, extended form of *bhel- (2) "to blow, inflate, swell" (see bole). This word is the source of the blown in full-blown.

n.

"hard hit," mid-15c., blowe, from northern and East Midlands dialects, perhaps from Middle Dutch blouwen "to beat," a common Germanic word of unknown origin (cf. German bleuen, Gothic bliggwan "to strike"). Influenced in English by blow (v.1). In reference to descriptions or accounts, blow-by-blow is recorded from 1921, American English, originally of prize-fight broadcasts.

LIKE a hungry kitten loves its saucer of warm milk, so do radio fans joyfully listen to the blow-by-blow broadcast description of a boxing bout. ["The Wireless Age," December 1922]

"a blowing, a blast," 1650s, from blow (v.1).

Slang definitions & phrases for blow in

blow in

verb phrase
  1. To arrive and enter, esp from a distance: Look who just blew in from Sri Lanka (1890s+)
  2. To spend recklessly; squander: He blew his whole month's pay in on that one pair of shoes (1880s+)

blow

noun
  1. To do or perform something, esp to do it well: He blows great conversation (1950s+ Beat & cool talk)
  2. Cocaine: ok, he gets busted for blow eight times/ Hell, half the people doing blow are reacting to the cut (1960s+ Narcotics)
verb
  1. To play a musical instrument, esp in jazz style and not necessarily a wind instrument: There will be three kids blowing guitar, banjo, and washboard/ This music is the culmination of all my writing and blowing (1900s+ Jazz musicians)
  2. To do fellatio or cunnilingus; suck off (1930s+)
  3. To be disgusting, nasty, worthless, etc; bite, suck: This blows and you do too (1970s+)
  4. To treat someone to something; buy something expensive or unusual for someone: I blew myself to a new pair of shoes (1870s+)
  5. (also blow something in) To spend money, esp foolishly and all at once: The state blew my money buying votes for Roosevelt/ And blow it in on smokes (1890s+)
  6. To take a narcotic, esp but not necessarily by inhalation: Jimi blew every kind of dope invented/ I don't know how you can blow dust and eat (1920+)
  7. To smoke marijuana; blow smoke: He enjoys sex; he does not blow grass (1960s+ Narcotics)
  8. To leave; depart; split: I'm blowing, I got a job in Detroit (1902+)
  9. To lose or ruin something by mistake, inattention, incompetence, etc; blow it: I blew the best chance I ever had (1920+)
  10. To forget or botch one's part in a show (1920s+ Theater)
  11. blow off
  12. To inform against someone; sing (1840s+)
  13. To expose or publicize something secret, esp something scandalous: Treat me right or I'll blow it about the love nest (late 1500s+)
  14. To lose one's temper; BLOW one's TOP (1900s+)
  15. (also blow off) To brag; TOOT one's OWN HORN (1400+)
  16. To sing, esp to sing well (1980s+ College students)
Related Terms

blow someone away, blow one's cool, blow someone's or something's cover, blow someone's mind, blow off one's mouth, blow the gaff, blow the lid off, blow the whistle, blow up, blow up a storm, blow something wide open, let off steam, low blow, one-two


Blow

Related Terms

joe blow


Idioms and Phrases with blow in

blow in

Arrive, especially unexpectedly. For example, Just when we'd given him up, Arthur blew in. [ ; late 1800s ]

blow

also see: