What Does โBlow sb upโ Mean?
โBlow sb upโ is a phrasal verb that usually means to attack someone with explosives or to suddenly make someone very angry. It can also mean to contact someone repeatedly, often by phone or messages.
Introduction
The phrase โblow sb upโ has multiple meanings depending on the context. The most common meaning is to explode something or someone, often in a violent or dramatic way. However, in everyday language, it can also mean to bombard someone with messages or calls, or to cause anger quickly. Understanding the blow sb up meaning is important because it helps you use this phrase correctly in conversation and writing. This phrasal verb is common in movies, informal speech, and sometimes in news reports. Knowing its different uses will improve your English comprehension and communication skills.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Blow somebody up
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To explode someone or something; to make someone angry; to contact repeatedly
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โBlow sb upโ is separable, meaning you can place the object between โblowโ and โupโ or after the whole phrase.
- blow somebody up
- blow up somebody
Examples:
- They threatened to blow the building up.
- Someone blew him up with angry messages.
How to Use โBlow sb upโ?
You can use โblow sb upโ in different contexts. First, in a literal sense, it means to cause an explosion that destroys a person or object. This is common in news or action movies.
Second, in informal speech, it means to make someone angry quickly or intensely.
Third, it means to contact someone many times, such as sending multiple phone calls or texts.
Examples
- The terrorists planned to blow the bridge up last night.
- My brother blew me up with questions when I got home.
- She blew him up with texts after the argument.
- Donโt blow me up just because Iโm late.
- The movie shows a scene where the villain blows the bank up.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: Please donโt blow up me with calls.
Correct: Please donโt blow me up with calls. - Incorrect: They blow up the car last night.
Correct: They blew the car up last night. - Incorrect: He blowed me up with messages.
Correct: He blew me up with messages.
Differences / Synonyms
โBlow sb upโ vs โBlow upโ: The phrase โblow upโ alone usually means to explode or suddenly become angry, but it does not always include a person as the object. โBlow sb upโ specifically involves a person being the object.
Synonyms include:
- Explode: More formal and literal for explosions.
- Bombard: Used for repeated communication, similar to โblow sb upโ with messages.
- Annoy: When โblow sb upโ means to irritate or anger someone.
Common Collocations
- Blow sb up with messages
- Blow sb up with calls
- Blow sb up with questions
- Blow sth up (a building, a car, a bomb)
- Blow sb up in anger
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of blow sb up:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Why didnโt you answer your phone?
Ben: I was busy. You kept blowing me up with calls!
Anna: Sorry, I was worried about you.
Ben: No problem, just donโt blow me up next time, okay?
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
- A) They blew up the old house yesterday.
- B) They blew the old house up yesterday.
- C) They blowed the old house up yesterday.
- D) They blow the old house up yesterday.
Answer: A and B are correct.
FAQs
- Q: Can โblow sb upโ mean to make someone angry?
A: Yes, it can mean to make someone angry quickly. - Q: Is โblow sb upโ always about explosions?
A: No, it can also mean to contact someone repeatedly or annoy them. - Q: Can I separate the phrasal verb?
A: Yes, you can say โblow sb upโ or โblow up sb.โ - Q: What is the past tense of โblow sb upโ?
A: The past tense is โblew sb up.โ - Q: Is โblow sb upโ formal or informal?
A: It is mostly informal and used in everyday conversations.
