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blast away

B2 informal inseparable intransitive
In simple words

To keep shooting a gun, OR to attack something very hard, OR to keep doing something with lots of energy.

Literal meaning: To blast (explode or shoot) continuously in all directions.

Meanings

1 B2 neutral

To fire weapons continuously or repeatedly without stopping.

"The soldiers blasted away at the enemy position for hours before the ceasefire."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B2 neutral

To attack or demolish something with explosive or powerful force.

"They blasted away at the old building for days before the walls finally came down."

Grammar: inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic informal

To work at something with great energy and enthusiasm, or for music to play at high volume continuously.

"She blasted away at the report all evening and finally finished it at midnight."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

The shooting sense is common in action contexts, news reporting, and fiction. The figurative 'work hard at something' sense is less common but used in informal speech. Can also describe loud music playing continuously. The particle 'away' adds the sense of continuous or sustained action.

Commonly used with

guns enemies keyboard music target critics

Forms

Base
blast away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
blasts away
he/she/it
Past simple
blasted away
yesterday
Past participle
blasted away
have + pp
-ing form
blasting away
continuous

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