explode
The old factory blew up after the fire reached the gas tanks.
blow up — 3 meanings
Same words, different jobs. Compare the meanings side by side so you know which one fits the situation.
phrasal verb3 meanings
blow upsame phrase
Which one do you mean?
become very angry
My boss blew up at me when I missed the deadline.
escalate rapidly
What started as a minor disagreement quickly blew up into a major conflict between the two departments.
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Meanings in detail
1. explode
B1neutralboth
to burst or break apart suddenly and violently, often with a loud noise.
The old factory blew up after the fire reached the gas tanks.
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B2informalspoken
to suddenly become extremely angry and start shouting or reacting strongly.
My boss blew up at me when I missed the deadline.
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Sign in to unlock3. escalate rapidly
C1neutralboth
to become much more serious or intense very quickly, especially in reference to a situation, argument, or conflict.
What started as a minor disagreement quickly blew up into a major conflict between the two departments.
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