1. Blow (To)

As the wind blows; or to blow with the breath. (Anglo-Saxon, blawan, to blow or breathe.)

It will soon blow over. It will soon be no longer talked about; it will soon come to an end, as a gale or storm blows over or ceases.

⁂ To blow off is another form of the same phrase.

To blow great guns. The wind blows so violently that its noise resembles the roar of artillery.

To blow hot and cold, (o ) To blow hot and cold with the same breath. To be inconsistent. The allusion is to the fable of a traveller who was entertained by a satyr. Being cold, the traveller blew his fingers to warm them, and afterwards blew his hot broth to cool it. The satyr, in great indignation, turned him out of doors, because he blew both hot and cold with the same breath.

To blow off the steam. To get rid of superfluous energy. The allusion is to the forcible escape of superfluous steam no longer required.

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.