Why, there's another party on the stair-*head inquiring arter scullers; and, by the mass! they appear in a greater hurry than any of us.'
1854. H. Miller, Sch. and Schm. (1858), 14. It soon began to blow great guns. [m.]
Blowhard, subs. (American).—A Western term of revilement, the precise meaning of which it would be difficult to explain, since a newcomer may, in one and the same breath, be called a blarsted Britisher, a Coyote, and a blowhard. If all these are synonymous, then indeed the Englishman in America is in a bad way. Cf., Blower, sense 2.
Blow Hot and Cold, verbal phr. (familiar).—To be treacherous; inconsistent; vacillating. There is an allusion in the expression to one of Æsop's fables.
1577. W. Bullinger, Decades (1592), 176. One which out of one mouth, doeth blowe both hoat and colde. [m.]
1756. The World, No. 185. This old fellow is of a most capricious, unequal temper, and, like the satyr in the fable, blows hot and cold in the same breath.
1856. Motley, Dutch Rep., V., v., 750. Being constantly ordered 'to blow hot and cold with the same breath.'
Blowing Up, subs, (colloquial).—A scolding; a severe reprimand; a jobation.—See Blow up. The French equivalent is affres (fem. pl.), i.e., 'agonies.'
1839. Haliburton, Letter-Bag Gt. West, IV., 42. I would give him a good blowing-up. [m.]
1874. Mrs. H. Wood, Johnny Ludlow, 1 S., No. xxv., p. 448. The waves dashed over the pier, ducking the three or four venturesome spirits who went on there. I was one—and received a good blowing up from Mr. Brandon for my pains.
Blow in One's Pipe, verbal phr. (American).—A transatlantic equivalent of to blow or blew [one's money]; i.e., to spend it.
Blow Me! Blow Me Up! Blow Me Tight! intj. phr. (popular).—Expressions which, like blowed (q.v.), serve either as half-veiled oaths or as merely big sounding but meaningless exclamations.
1781. G. Parker, View of Society, I., 48. 'Blow me up (says he) if I have had a fellow with such rum toggys cross my company these many a day.'
1819. Moore, Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress. Says Bill 'there's nothing like a Bull And blow me tight'—Bill Gibbons ne'er In all his days was known to swear, Except light oaths, to grace his speeches, Like 'dash my wig' or 'burn my breeches,' 'Blow me'
1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 25. Here blow me, I'll do such a thing I never did before, I'll say thirty—yes, thirty shillings buys the lot, and I'll have no more nor take no less.
Blow One's Bazoo, verbal phr. (American).—To boast; to swagger; to gasconade. [From the Dutch bazu, an abbreviation of bazuin, a trumpet; hence an equivalent of the English 'to blow one's own trumpet'.]
Blow Oneself Out, verb (common).—To eat heartily; to gorge oneself.—See Blow out.
1837. Barham, I. L. (Babes in the Wood). In the dog-days, don't be so absurd As to blow yourselves out with greengages!
Blow Out, subs. (common).—A gluttonous feast, a heavy 'feed,' or entertainment. Also called a Tuck in, which see for syno-
