1 B2 idiomatic informal
To spend a large amount of money very quickly and carelessly.
"She blew through her entire pay cheque in one weekend."
blow through
B2 informal transitive
To spend or use up something quickly and carelessly; or to move through a place at speed.
In plain English
To use up money or resources very quickly, or to move through a place very fast.
What does "blow through" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 informal
To move through a place very quickly, often without stopping.
"He blew through three stop signs on the way to the hospital."
3 B1 neutral
Of wind or cold air: to pass through an entire space.
"An icy wind blew through the open barn, chilling everything inside."
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
For wind to blow through an opening or space — to pass all the way through.
Actually means
To use up money or resources very quickly, or to move through a place very fast.
Usage tip
Very common in informal American English. The 'spend carelessly' sense is extremely frequent. Also used for wind passing through, or for moving through checkpoints or situations rapidly.
Words that pair with "blow through"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
money savings budget cash town checkpoint stop sign
How to conjugate "blow through"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
blow through
I/you/we/they
3rd person
blows through
he/she/it
Past simple
blew through
yesterday
Past participle
blown through
have + pp
-ing form
blowing through
continuous
Hear "blow through" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "blow through" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "blow through"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.