The phrasal verb "blow away" is predominantly informal and widely used in everyday conversation rather than in formal writing. It is commonly employed to express overwhelming surprise, admiration, or defeat, as in being "blown away" by someone's talents or when a team "blows away" the competition, indicating a major victory. Additionally, in more literal contexts, it can describe the action of wind forcefully moving objects, such as "the wind blew away the papers." Its versatility in expressing both physical and emotional impacts makes it a popular choice for conveying strong reactions or results. Informal social settings, such as casual conversations, media, and advertisements, frequently see the use of this vibrant idiom, enhancing its role in cultural expressions of awe or victory.
B2
UpperIntermediate
1. To impress or amaze someone greatly.
The performance of the new band will blow you away.
His groundbreaking ideas blew away the entire committee.
2. To defeat someone or something decisively.
Our team blew away the competition in the finals.
The storm blew away all the records for rainfall.
3. To kill someone by shooting (informal, often used in crime contexts).
The gangster threatened to blow away anyone who stood in his way.
In the movie, the hero blew away the villain in the final scene.