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1. To blow up something (or blow something up) is to fill it with air (e.g. a balloon, or a car or bicycle tyre).
Examples of use:
a) Can you blow these balloons up for the party, please?
b) He blew up his tyres with a pump.
2. To blow up something or somebody (or blow something or somebody up) is to destroy something or kill somebody with a bomb.
When something blows up, or when somebody blows something up , it explodes.
Examples of use:
a) The family were injured when their house blew up because of a gas leak.
b) Fortunately the plane was empty when the hijackers blew it up.
3. To blow up something (or blow something up) is to make a large copy of a photograph.
Example of use:
I need a closer look at this photograph. Can you blow it up for me, please?
4. To blow up is to suddenly lose get very angry.
Informal English.
Example of use:
We were having a discussion about the accounts and he suddenly blew up and stormed out.
| infinitive | blow up |
| present simple | blow up and blows up |
| -ing form | blowing up |
| past simple | blew up |
| past participle | blown up |
Can you write a comment using this phrasal verb?
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About Angela Boothroyd
[...] They were discussing their finances and she blew up and stormed [...]