blow-out

A driver pulls over to the side of the road after a tire blow-out.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A sudden burst or rupture: "blow-out" refers to the sudden bursting of a tire or a similar container due to internal pressure.
   • An electrical surge or fuse failure: In electrical contexts, a "blow-out" is the event when a fuse melts or an arc is extinguished.
   • A lavish meal or party: Informally, "blow-out" means an extravagant feast or celebration, often involving excessive consumption.
   • A violent outburst of anger: In American slang, "blow-out" describes a fit of rage or a heated argument.
   • A major event or incident: In American slang, "blow-out" can refer to a significant or dramatic occurrence.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The car had a blow-out on the highway, causing a sudden loss of control. (A tire burst due to pressure.)
  • The electrical blow-out tripped the circuit breaker. (A fuse or arc failure in the system.)
  • We had a blow-out at the restaurant to celebrate her promotion. (A lavish meal or party.)
  • His blow-out over the minor mistake surprised everyone in the office. (A violent outburst of anger.)
  • The concert was a real blow-out, with thousands of fans attending. (A major event.)

Advanced Usage

• "to have a blow-out": to experience a tire explosion or an angry outburst.

  • We had to pull over after a blow-out on the rear tire. (The tire burst.)
  • She had a blow-out when she found out about the broken vase. (She became very angry.)

• "blow-out sale": a retail event with heavily discounted prices, often to clear inventory.

  • The store is having a blow-out sale on winter coats. (A major sale with deep discounts.)

Variants and Related Words

• Blowout (adj): describing something related to a burst or extravagance.
  • The blowout patch was easy to install. (Related to a tire repair.)
• Blowout-proof (adj): resistant to bursting.
  • These tires are blowout-proof for safety. (Designed to prevent blow-outs.)

Synonyms

• Burst: a sudden breaking or rupture.
• Binge: an excessive indulgence, especially in food or drink (for the lavish meal sense).
• Rant: a loud, angry speech (for the angry outburst sense).
• Extravaganza: a lavish or spectacular event (for the major event sense).

Phrasal Verbs

• Blow out (verb phrase): to burst or explode suddenly.
  • The tire blew out as we drove over the sharp rock. (The tire burst.)
• Blow out (verb phrase): to extinguish a flame by blowing.
  • She blew out the candles on her birthday cake. (She used breath to put out the flames.)

Related Idioms

• Blow out of proportion: to exaggerate the importance or scale of something.
  • He blew the mistake out of proportion, making it seem like a disaster. (He exaggerated the situation.)
• Blow the lid off: to reveal a secret or scandal.
  • The journalist blew the lid off the corruption scandal. (She exposed the hidden truth.)