blow away

verb

1. to kill (someone) by shooting

2. to defeat decisively

Idioms and Phrases

Kill, especially by gunshot or explosion. For example, The unit reported that the whole village was blown away . This usage became particularly widespread in the 1960s, during the Vietnam War. [ Slang ; early 1990s]

Overcome easily; defeat decisively. For example, Ann said the test would be easy; she would just blow it away , or Jim was sure his crew could blow away their opponents . [ Slang ; 1960s] Also see blow off , def. 5.

Impress greatly, overwhelm with surprise, delight, or shock, as in That music really blew me away . [ Slang ; c. 1970] Also see blow one's mind .

Example Sentences

“Trees with roots don’t blow away,” she says as the interview comes to an end.

From Los Angeles Times

“If someone wants to buy you because you’re generating a bunch of value, well, then I mean, maybe Zuck will pay something that will just kind of blow away the conception of, you know, what you think is reasonable, right?” he said, referencing Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg.

From Los Angeles Times

Americans blow away every other rich country in the world in terms of likeliness to get splattered on the asphalt.

From Slate

But in the hand, it immediately began to disintegrate and blow away in the light breeze.

From Los Angeles Times

If Tuchel thought he could quickly blow away the cobwebs he believed had gathered on Southgate's England, then his first two games in charge will have been a sobering dose of reality.

From BBC

Related Words

• amaze 
• astonish 
• astound 
• bemuse 
• bewilder 
• confound 
• confuse 
• daze 
• dumbfound 
• flabbergast 
• knock out 
• overcome 
• overpower 
• overwhelm 
• paralyze 
• rock 
• shake up 
• surprise