DictionaryblowCareless waste
verb

blow

To waste something through carelessness.

He blows his entire allowance on snacks before the weekend begins.

Etymology

Old English blāwan meant to blow air. The wasteful sense figuratively treats resources or opportunities as things blown away, lost through a careless act rather than kept or used well.

More examples

  • I blew my chance by arriving late.
  • They had blown most of their savings.
  • She is blowing money on unnecessary repairs.

Forms

blow · blows · blew · blown · blowing

Similar words

squander
More strongly stresses wasteful or foolish use of resources.
waste
Waste is neutral and lacks blow's informal suggestion of reckless loss.