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blow out

A2 neutral separable both
In simple words

To use your breath to put out a flame, like on birthday candles; or for something to suddenly stop working.

Literal meaning: To blow air outward to extinguish a flame.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To extinguish a candle or flame by blowing air at it.

"She took a deep breath and blew out all the candles on her birthday cake."

Grammar: separable
2 B1 neutral

Of a tyre: to burst suddenly and lose air.

"We had to stop at the side of the motorway because a tyre blew out."

3 B2 idiomatic informal

To defeat a person or team by a very large margin (American informal).

"The home team blew out their rivals 7–0."

Grammar: separable
4 B1 neutral

Of an electrical component or fuse: to stop working because of a power surge.

"The power cut blew out the fuse box."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

The candle/flame sense is A2 and universal. Tyre blowouts and electrical failures are common literal senses. The sports 'easy victory' sense is American informal. Also used for cancelling on someone informally (American English).

Commonly used with

candle flame tyre match fuse competition

Forms

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

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Synonyms

extinguish put out snuff out quench defeat cancel

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