The bomb might have blown up if the children had tried to move it.
•The firecracker blew up.
2. Fig. to burst into anger. •I just knew you'd blow up.
•So she blew up. Why should that affect you so much?
3. Fig. an angry outburst; a fight. (Usually blowup.) •After the third blowup, she left him.
•One blowup after another from you. Control your temper!
4. Fig. an enlarged version of a photograph, map, chart, etc. (Usually blowup.) •Here's a blowup of the scene of the crime.
•Kelly sent a blowup of their wedding picture to all her relatives.
5. Fig. the ruination of something; the collapse of something. (Usually blowup.) •The blowup in the financial world has ruined my chances for early retirement.
•After the blowup at the company, the top managers called one another to compare notes.
6. Fig. to fall apart or get ruined. •The whole project blew up. It will have to be canceled.
•All my planning was blown up this afternoon.
7. [for a storm] to arrive accompanied by the blowing of the wind. •A terrible storm blew up while we were in the movie theater.
•I was afraid that a rainstorm was blowing up.
The bomb might have blown up if the children had tried to move it.
•The firecracker blew up.
2. Fig. to burst into anger. •I just knew you'd blow up.
•So she blew up. Why should that affect you so much?
3. Fig. an angry outburst; a fight. (Usually blowup.) •After the third blowup, she left him.
•One blowup after another from you. Control your temper!
4. Fig. an enlarged version of a photograph, map, chart, etc. (Usually blowup.) •Here's a blowup of the scene of the crime.
•Kelly sent a blowup of their wedding picture to all her relatives.
5. Fig. the ruination of something; the collapse of something. (Usually blowup.) •The blowup in the financial world has ruined my chances for early retirement.
•After the blowup at the company, the top managers called one another to compare notes.
6. Fig. to fall apart or get ruined. •The whole project blew up. It will have to be canceled.
•All my planning was blown up this afternoon.
7. [for a storm] to arrive accompanied by the blowing of the wind. •A terrible storm blew up while we were in the movie theater.
•I was afraid that a rainstorm was blowing up.