Phrasal Verb - Blowing Off
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.Definition
The phrasal verb 'blow off' has several distinct meanings, often used informally or colloquially:
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To deliberately fail to attend an appointment, meeting, or social engagement; to ignore or avoid someone or something. This implies a conscious decision to not participate, often demonstrating a lack of respect for the other party or the commitment. It suggests a casual dismissal of an obligation. Example: He completely blew off our lunch appointment without even calling.
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To dismiss, disregard, or treat something as unimportant or not worth serious consideration. This can apply to advice, warnings, responsibilities, suggestions, or criticisms, often leading to negative consequences if the dismissed item was indeed important. Example: She tends to blow off constructive criticism, which isn't always beneficial for her growth.
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To release pent-up energy, anger, frustration, or stress. This is often used reflexively as 'blow off steam' or simply 'blow off' when referring to the need to expel negative emotions or excess energy in a harmless or recreational way. Example: After a particularly tough week, I need to go to the gym to blow off some steam.
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To defeat an opponent easily in a competition. While 'blow out' is more commonly used for this specific meaning, 'blow off' can sometimes be employed informally to convey an overwhelming or effortless victory against an opposing team or individual. Example: Our team surprisingly blew off the championship contenders in the first round.
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To cause something to be removed or detached by force of air or an explosion. This is a more literal application of 'blow' combined with 'off', signifying something being dislodged or separated due to powerful air currents or an explosive force. Example: The strong hurricane winds threatened to blow off parts of the building's roof.
Examples
| No. | Example |
|---|---|
| 1 | He completely blew off our team meeting, claiming he forgot about it. |
| 2 | Don't just blow off his warnings; they might save you a lot of trouble later. |
| 3 | After a stressful exam, I always try to go for a long walk to blow off some steam. |
| 4 | She's notorious for blowing off social plans at the last minute if something better comes along. |
| 5 | The manager had a tendency to blow off employee suggestions, which led to low morale. |
| 6 | We expected a tough opponent, but our star player managed to blow off the competition with ease. |
| 7 | If you keep blowing off your responsibilities, you'll never achieve your goals. |
| 8 | The safety valve was designed to blow off excess pressure and prevent an explosion. |
| 9 | He tried to apologize, but she just blew him off, still too angry to listen. |
| 10 | Let's go to the arcade and blow off some energy after sitting in lectures all day. |