blow upon
C1 formal inseparable transitive
In simple words
To blow air at something, or to make someone's good name look bad.
Literal meaning: To send a puff or stream of air directly upon an object.
Meanings
1 C1 formal
To direct a current of air onto something, typically to cool, kindle, or clean it.
"She knelt beside the hearth and blew upon the dying embers until they glowed red again."
"He blew upon his frozen fingers to warm them."
— Charles Dickens, 'A Christmas Carol' (1843) — paraphrased narrative description
Grammar: inseparable
2 C1
idiomatic
formal
To damage or cast doubt upon someone's reputation or honour.
"The scandal blew upon his previously unblemished reputation."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Largely archaic; the literal sense has been replaced by 'blow on' in everyday speech. The figurative sense (to cast doubt on someone's reputation) survives mainly in literary or legal contexts. Rarely used in modern conversation.
Commonly used with
reputation embers flame honour character name
Forms
Base
blow upon
I/you/we/they
3rd person
blows upon
he/she/it
Past simple
blew upon
yesterday
Past participle
blown upon
have + pp
-ing form
blowing upon
continuous
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Synonyms
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