blow it
BLOH it
/bloʊ ɪt/
To fail at something or to lose an opportunity through a mistake or lack of effort.
Often carries a sense of personal regret or self-blame.
The story behind the word. The origins are somewhat vague, but it likely relates to the idea of 'blowing' something away or out, like a candle, or the sudden release of pressure (as in an explosion) that ruins a process.
Word relationships
- mess up: 'Mess up' is slightly less intense than 'blow it', which often implies a final or major failure.
- nail it: 'Nail it' is the perfect execution; 'blow it' is the failed execution.
Commonly confused with
- screw up: 'Screw up' is a very similar slang term, but 'blow it' is more common when referring to a specific opportunity.
Collocations
- really blow it
- don't blow it
- blew his chance
Example sentences
- "I had a chance to apologize, but I blew it by getting angry again." Social mistake
- "The team was winning until the last minute, but then they blew it." Sports
Memory hook
Think of a bubble bursting—once it's blown, it's gone. Opportunity gone.
When not to use
Too casual for formal performance reviews.
Fun facts
- In jazz, 'to blow' can actually mean to play an instrument well, but 'to blow it' always means to fail.
Related words
Explore more words
botch, make a mistake, self-reproach, blunder, chagrin, regret
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