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blow away

B1 informal separable transitive
In simple words

To totally amaze someone, to completely beat someone, or for the wind to move something.

Literal meaning: For wind to blow something so strongly that it moves away.

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic informal

To impress or astonish someone very greatly.

"Her final performance blew the judges away — they gave her a standing ovation."

Grammar: separable
2 A2 neutral

Of wind: to carry something or someone away by force.

"My umbrella was blown away as soon as I stepped outside."

Grammar: separable
3 B1 idiomatic informal

To defeat an opponent completely and decisively.

"They blew away the competition in the final round of the tournament."

Grammar: separable
4 B2 idiomatic slang

To kill someone with a gun (informal, used in crime or action contexts).

"In the film, the villain threatens to blow away anyone who stands in his way."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

The 'impress' sense is very common in informal American and British English. The violent 'kill' sense is used in action films and crime dramas. The literal wind sense is the most physically transparent.

Commonly used with

competition audience expectations crowd performance wind

Forms

Base
blow away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
blows away
he/she/it
Past simple
blew away
yesterday
Past participle
blown away
have + pp
-ing form
blowing away
continuous

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Synonyms

astound amaze stun overwhelm floor outdo

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