blow-up
/ˈbləʊ.ʌp/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbloʊ.ʌp/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈblō-ˌəp How to pronounce blowup (audio)/ (ame, mw)
blow-up — noun
1. a sudden, noisy quarrel in which people lose control of their tempers
a sudden, noisy quarrel in which people lose control of their tempers
After the budget meeting, Kim and Jorge had a blow-up in the hall.
have a blow-up with somebody
One small joke led to a family blow-up during Sunday lunch.
The roommates tried to stay calm and avoid another blow-up over dishes.
Her resignation came a day after a blow-up with the store manager.
用法筆記
Stronger and more sudden than a normal argument. It usually suggests raised voices and lost self-control.
2. a larger print made from an original photo, picture, or document
a larger print made from an original photo, picture, or document
The detective pinned a blow-up of the license plate on the wall.
blow-up of + photo or document
We ordered a blow-up of Grandpa's wedding photo for the party.
The museum used a blow-up of the map so visitors could read it.
Mia carried a blow-up of the receipt into the meeting room.
- enlargement
A more neutral and less informal word.
用法筆記
Used for something that has been printed larger, not for the act of enlarging it.
blow-up — adjective
1. made to work only after air has been pumped inside it
made to work only after air has been pumped inside it
We slept on a blow-up mattress when the cousins stayed over.
blow-up + mattress or toy
Omar packed a blow-up boat for the lake trip.
The clinic kept a blow-up neck pillow behind the front desk.
The children raced across the yard with a blow-up shark.
- inflatable
More formal and more common in product descriptions.
用法筆記
Usually used before a noun for toys, beds, boats, and other things that need air inside them.
blow-up — phrasal verb
- blow-upbase form
- blow-ups3rd person singular
- blow-uping-ing form
- blow-upedpast simple
1. to burst apart in an explosion, or to be wrecked when something explodes
to burst apart in an explosion, or to be wrecked when something explodes
The old gas pipe blew up behind the bakery at dawn.
something blows up
A fireworks box blew up after it tipped into the grill.
The bridge almost blew up when the truck caught fire.
Reporters ran back as the abandoned car blew up near the gate.
- explode
The most direct one-word equivalent.
文法句型
something blows up
blow up something
用法筆記
This sense is often intransitive, with the thing damaged by the explosion as the subject.
2. to begin all at once and become intense very quickly
to begin all at once and become intense very quickly
A fierce storm blew up while the fishing boats were still offshore.
storm or trouble blows up suddenly
Trouble blew up outside the stadium after the final whistle.
A row blew up in the queue when two people pushed ahead.
Protests blew up across the city after the factory closed.
- flare up
Very close for trouble or conflict starting suddenly.
文法句型
storm blows up
trouble blows up
用法筆記
Usually used for storms, conflict, or other situations that suddenly become serious.
3. to break something apart by setting off an explosion
to break something apart by setting off an explosion
The rescue team blew up the unsafe shed before it collapsed.
blow up + object
Soldiers blew up the roadblock after civilians left the area.
The film crew blew up a fake wall for the final scene.
Workers blew up the old chimney on Saturday morning.
- demolish
Broader, and not always done with explosives.
文法句型
blow up something
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this one normally has a direct object naming the thing intentionally destroyed.
4. to pump air or gas into something so it swells and becomes firm
to pump air or gas into something so it swells and becomes firm
Please blow up these balloons before the children arrive.
blow up + balloon or air bed
Kasia blew up the air bed beside the window.
The medic blew up the splint until it fit Eli's leg.
We used a foot pump to blow up the pool ring.
- inflate
More formal and common in instructions.
文法句型
blow up something
用法筆記
Used for objects such as balloons, beds, boats, and toys that become larger when filled with air.
5. to produce a larger print from a photo or negative
to produce a larger print from a photo or negative
The editor blew up the image so the headline would fit.
blow up + image for print use
Can you blow up this passport photo for the display board?
Hao blew up the class picture and framed it for his parents.
The lab blew up the tiny print from the damaged file.
- enlarge
Works for both print and screen images.
文法句型
blow up a photo
用法筆記
This is about making a printed image larger, not about making a problem seem bigger.
6. to present something as bigger, better, worse, or more important than the facts
to present something as bigger, better, worse, or more important than the facts support
The ad blew up a minor discount into a huge event.
blow up something into something bigger
Romi blew up the mistake until the whole team felt guilty.
Do not blow up one late train into a travel disaster.
The rumor site blew up his short comment for extra clicks.
- overstate
More formal and often used in writing.
文法句型
blow up something into something
用法筆記
Often negative. It is common in talk about media, advertising, and social media reaction.
7. to suddenly become very angry, especially at another person
to suddenly become very angry, especially at another person
Dad blew up when he saw mud on the clean sofa.
blow up when / at / over
Isabela blew up at the driver who blocked her gate.
The coach blew up over the lazy pass in practice.
My boss blew up after I missed the delivery time.
- snap
Suggests a short burst of anger.
文法句型
blow up at somebody
blow up over something
用法筆記
This is stronger and more sudden than simply getting annoyed. It often takes at or over to name the target or cause.
8. to swamp a phone, inbox, or service with far too many calls or messages
to swamp a phone, inbox, or service with far too many calls or messages
Fans blew up the radio station after the singer canceled.
blow up a phone or inbox
The error alert blew up our support inbox all night.
One coupon code blew up the cafe's ordering app by noon.
Viewers blew up Mira's phone during the live interview.
- swamp
Less slangy and usable in more formal writing.
文法句型
blow up a phone
blow up an inbox
用法筆記
Usually said about phones, inboxes, apps, or social accounts receiving more attention than they can handle.
9. to become popular or successful very quickly
to become popular or successful very quickly
The song blew up after one dance clip spread online.
person, song, or brand blows up
Her small bakery blew up once a food blogger visited.
Imran's short film blew up at the student festival.
The brand blew up when athletes started wearing its shoes.
- take off
Often used for success that starts suddenly.
文法句型
song blows up
brand blows up
用法筆記
Very common in online and entertainment contexts. It suggests a fast jump in attention, not slow steady growth.