blow out

phr.v. to put out a flame, like a candle, by blowing air from your mouth.

phr.v. to extinguish a flame or fire by means of a current of air.

“Make a wish before you blow out the candles on your cake.”

“The sudden draft from the open window threatened to blow out the lanterns before the guests had even arrived.”

phr.v. to win a game or competition by a very large score.

phr.v. to defeat an opponent decisively or by a significant margin in a sporting contest. Informal in register.

“Our team was so much better that we blew them out in the first half.”

“The defending champions blew out the challengers in a lopsided final that left fans questioning the league's competitive balance.”

Informal

phr.v. to break suddenly, especially a car tyre or a light bulb.

phr.v. to fail or burst suddenly due to pressure, overcurrent, or wear. Often used for tyres or electrical components.

“The car's rear tyre blew out while we were driving on the motorway.”

“The old transformer blew out during the thunderstorm, leaving the entire residential block without power for several hours.”

phr.v. to seriously injure a part of your body that moves, like a knee or shoulder.

phr.v. to suffer a severe injury to a joint, typically involving the tearing of ligaments or tendons.

“The athlete blew out his knee during the final minutes of the game.”

“After he blew out his ACL for the second time, the surgeon advised him to retire from professional football permanently.”

Informal

phr.v. to spend a large amount of money on something special.

phr.v. to spend an extravagant amount of money, often impulsively or for a celebration. Primarily British English.

“We decided to blow out on a fancy dinner for our anniversary.”

“Having received his year-end bonus, he decided to blow it all out on a first-class trip to Japan.”

British English · Informal