Phrasal verb
blow in
Definitions
01to arrive unexpectedly
C1 · Advanced Informal
phr.v. to arrive somewhere suddenly or without an invitation, often in a casual way.
phr.v. to arrive at a location unexpectedly and casually. The verb is intransitive in this sense.
“We were just sitting down to dinner when my old college roommate blew in.”
“The cousins blew in from the coast just as the party was winding down, bringing a fresh wave of energy to the room.”
Usage
This phrasal verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.
Teaching tip
This sense implies a lack of planning or a sudden, breezy entrance like a gust of wind.
02to waste money
C2 · Proficiency Slang
phr.v. to spend a lot of money very quickly or foolishly.
phr.v. to squander or waste a significant amount of a resource, typically money, in a short period. Transitive use.
“He blew in his entire inheritance on expensive cars and luxury holidays.”
“After winning the lottery, he managed to blow in nearly half the jackpot within six months on speculative investments.”
Usage
Takes a direct object, usually a sum of money or a resource.
Teaching tip
This is a very informal usage; in professional contexts, 'squander' or 'deplete' is preferred.
03to start a furnace
C2 · Proficiency Science Technical
phr.v. to start a large industrial oven used for making metal.
phr.v. to activate a blast furnace by removing moisture and igniting fuel to begin the smelting process.
“The steel mill prepared to blow in the new furnace after months of maintenance.”
“Engineers monitored the pressure levels closely as they began to blow in the blast furnace for the first time this year.”
Usage
Used primarily in the context of metallurgy and heavy industry.
Teaching tip
This is a highly specialized term that most learners will only encounter in industrial or historical texts.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “blow in” in context.
Verb
01. blow in and announce
“She blew in and announced that she was moving to Paris the following morning.”
verb + and + verb
02. casually blow in
“He casually blew in just as we were finishing dinner, acting as if nothing was wrong.”
adv + verb
03. suddenly blow in
“A group of old friends suddenly blew in from out of town, catching us completely off guard.”
adv + verb
Noun
04. strangers blow in
“We rarely see strangers blow in to this small village during the winter months.”
noun + verb
05. tourists blow in
“As soon as the festival starts, thousands of tourists blow in from the city.”
noun + verb
Teaching tip
highlight the informal, 'wind-like' quality of the arrival; it suggests the person didn't plan the visit or arrived with a lot of energy.
Real-World Examples
“He had a theory about what one Irish Prime Minister referred to as ' blow-ins' -- foreign settlers in Ireland.” Phrasal verb
Particles
in
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
blow + in
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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