blow in
- 01 C1 Advanced
to arrive somewhere suddenly or without an invitation, often in a casual way.
to arrive at a location unexpectedly and casually. The verb is intransitive in this sense.
Simple“We were just sitting down to dinner when my old college roommate blew in.”
In context“The cousins blew in from the coast just as the party was winding down, bringing a fresh wave of energy to the room.”
UsageThis phrasal verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.
Teacher's tipThis sense implies a lack of planning or a sudden, breezy entrance like a gust of wind.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
to spend a lot of money very quickly or foolishly.
to squander or waste a significant amount of a resource, typically money, in a short period. Transitive use.
Simple“He blew in his entire inheritance on expensive cars and luxury holidays.”
In context“After winning the lottery, he managed to blow in nearly half the jackpot within six months on speculative investments.”
UsageTakes a direct object, usually a sum of money or a resource.
Teacher's tipThis is a very informal usage; in professional contexts, 'squander' or 'deplete' is preferred.
- 03 C2 Proficiency
to start a large industrial oven used for making metal.
to activate a blast furnace by removing moisture and igniting fuel to begin the smelting process.
Simple“The steel mill prepared to blow in the new furnace after months of maintenance.”
In context“Engineers monitored the pressure levels closely as they began to blow in the blast furnace for the first time this year.”
UsageUsed primarily in the context of metallurgy and heavy industry.
Teacher's tipThis is a highly specialized term that most learners will only encounter in industrial or historical texts.
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.