to blow something out of the water
12
6.0
- idiom
- Informal
:
arrasar (con)
- So even in the strongest case against abortion, Thompson's argument blows it out of the water.
- blow the competition out of the water
- blew everything else out of the water
- gonna blow them out of the water
It's great integration of screen technology, and to me, this screen stuff blows basically all of its competitors out of the water.
- It's great integration of screen technology, and to me, this screen stuff blows basically all of its competitors out of the water.
Examples
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Both record- and rating-wise, AS blows those others out of the water.
Blog text (17) -
From an off-Broadway internship to going on a safari in Africa, Ali's summer most likely blew yours out of the water.
Blog text (10) -
George E. Smith had some very good articles on this subject that blow this study out of the water.
Blog text (30) -
I believe Obama is going to blow him out of the water next time.
Blog text (7) -
Everyone said Carter would blow Reagan out of the water.
Blog text (12) -
I know we can blow these courses out of the water; Izzie has the skills.
Blog text (15) -
Then your #s should look like you'd blow almost any opponent out of the water.
Blog text (15) -
Then, the Yankees blew the Angels out of the water in the Teixeira negotiations.
Blog text (29) -
Vandersteel blew her opponents out of the water, coming in 10 seconds before any other rower in her race.
Blog text (14) -
The new marketing strategy is going to blow our competition out of the water and significantly increase our sales.
Synonyms
15
7.9
Do very well in a competition or challenge
7
6.8
To become faster, better, or larger than another
4
6.8
To surprise and beat someone or something by a large amount
1
7.2
To do much better than people expect
To beat others easily by being much faster or better
To make someone very impressed or be much better than something
Antonyms
How Overwhelming
71
7.5
- Informal
12
6.0
30
4.8
∞
1.4
Surface Forms
Morphology
blow + something + out + of + the + water
The phrase invokes a vivid, metaphorical image (forcefully blowing something out of the water) that partly signals destruction or overwhelming defeat, so the literal meanings of 'blow' and 'water' give some clue. However, the specific conversational sense 'completely surpass or rout' is an idiomatic extension that a B1 learner who only knows the constituent words would not reliably predict without prior exposure.
Etymology
Blow something out of the water comes from old sea battles, when a ship hit by cannon fire could have parts literally blown out of the water and then sink. So this strong picture of total destruction is why the phrase now means 'to defeat completely' or 'to surpass by a large margin'.