What does "blow up" mean (sense 1)?

To explode or to destroy something with an explosion. Example: "The army used controlled demolition to blow up the old bridge."

What does "blow up" mean (sense 2)?

To fill something with air or gas; to inflate. Example: "Can you help me blow up the rest of the balloons before the guests arrive?"

What does "blow up" mean (sense 3)?

To suddenly lose one's temper and become very angry. Example: "My dad blew up when he found out I'd crashed the car."

Browse all

blow up

A2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive

To explode or cause to explode; to inflate with air; to become very angry; or for something to suddenly become a major issue.

In plain English

To explode; to fill something with air; to suddenly become very angry; or for a small problem to become a big one.

What does "blow up" mean?

4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.

1 A2 neutral

very common

To explode or to destroy something with an explosion.

"The army used controlled demolition to blow up the old bridge."

separable

2 A2 neutral

very common

To fill something with air or gas; to inflate.

"Can you help me blow up the rest of the balloons before the guests arrive?"

separable

3 B1 idiomatic informal

very common

To suddenly lose one's temper and become very angry.

"My dad blew up when he found out I'd crashed the car."

4 B2 idiomatic informal

very common

For a situation, argument, or scandal to suddenly become serious or widely known.

"A small disagreement in the comments section blew up into a massive online controversy."

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

For air or gas to push something upward and outward until it bursts.

Actually means

To explode; to fill something with air; to suddenly become very angry; or for a small problem to become a big one.

Usage tip

One of the most versatile and frequent phrasal verbs in English. The 'explode' and 'inflate' senses are A2. The 'lose one's temper' sense is very common informally. The 'become a major issue' sense is increasingly common in media and social contexts.

Words that pair with "blow up"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

bomb balloon argument scandal anger photo building

How to conjugate "blow up"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base

blow up

I/you/we/they

3rd person

blows up

he/she/it

Past simple

blew up

yesterday

Past participle

blown up

have + pp

-ing form

blowing up

continuous

Hear "blow up" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "blow up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Other ways to say "blow up"

Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.

detonate enlarge escalate explode inflate lose one's temper

Keep exploring

Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.

All phrasal verbs with "blow" All phrasal verbs with "up" More A2-level phrasal verbs