Blow up
Meaning
To explode or suddenly erupt, either physically, emotionally, or in terms of public attention.
Origin
The power of 'blow up' lies in its visceral imagery of sudden, violent expansion. The verb 'blow' itself carries ancient Germanic roots, evoking the raw force of wind and breath, a fundamental expulsion of air. When coupled with 'up,' the direction transforms the expulsion into an outward, forceful eruption. This phrasal verb truly found its explosive power with the advent of gunpowder and early blasting techniques in the 17th century. Imagine engineers preparing a charge beneath a fortification, the command given, and the earth suddenly rending as the structure is 'blown up' into the sky. From this literal, destructive act, the phrase quickly expanded its reach, capturing the essence of any rapid, intense, and often uncontrolled expansion—from a fit of temper to a sudden surge of fame—all carrying the echoes of that initial, powerful detonation.
Examples
- The engineers used controlled explosives to blow up the old bridge without harming surrounding structures.
- His company's new product really began to blow up on social media, garnering millions of views in days.