blow up

verb

1. to explode or cause to explode
2. tr to increase the importance of (something)

   they blew the whole affair up

3. intr to come into consideration

   we lived well enough before this thing blew up

4. intr to come into existence with sudden force

   a storm had blown up

5. informal.
   to lose one's temper (with a person)
6. informal.
   tr to reprimand (someone)
7. informal.
   tr to enlarge the size or detail of (a photograph)

noun

1. an explosion
2. informal.
   an enlarged photograph or part of a photograph
3. informal.
   a fit of temper or argument
4. informal.
   Also calledblowing up a reprimand

Example Sentences

A man who pleaded guilty to taking part in disorder over the summer previously tried to blow up a mosque, it has emerged.

From BBC

As the talks faltered, Washington put its thumb on the scales, suspending aid to Ethiopia, while Trump suggested that Egypt might "blow up" the dam.

From BBC

Someone called 911 and threatened to ‘blow up’ the TransLatin@ Coalition on Wilshire Boulevard, with ‘gasoline or plane.’

From Los Angeles Times

“But there’s a slight chance it could blow up and everybody dies,” Musk said.

From Los Angeles Times

But at its core, the big question of the 2024 election was whether voters were ready to blow up the fragile infrastructure of democracy to stick it to the most vulnerable among us.

From Slate

Related Words

• burst
• crash
• detonation
• eruption
• explosion
• outbreak
• outburst
• volley