# blaze away

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/blaze-away
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to do something with a lot of energy and without stopping, like shooting a gun or working very fast.

For teachers: To fire a weapon or perform a task continuously and with sustained intensity. The verb is intransitive and emphasizes the repetitive or unceasing nature of the action.

## Examples

- The reporters blazed away with their cameras as the star arrived.
- He sat in the corner of the library, blazing away at his laptop to meet the midnight deadline.
- The battery of cannons blazed away into the fog, though the gunners could no longer see their intended targets through the smoke.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They blazed away the ammunition." but "They blazed away with the ammunition." — The phrase is intransitive and does not take a direct object; use 'with' or 'at' to connect to a noun.

## Usage notes

- Typically used as an intransitive verb, often followed by 'at' to indicate the target or task.
- Teaching tip: The particle 'away' here functions as an aspectual marker indicating continuous or vigorous action, similar to 'work away' or 'hammer away'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.