blow off steam • blow smoke blow off steam—(also: let off steam) give vent to one’s anger or frustration (by talking in an unrestrained manner, etc.): Perhaps the best way to blow off steam and get rid of stress is through exercise. blow smoke —speak deceptively; brag or exaggerate: Hope- fully they aren’t blowing smoke about how good they are be- cause I’ve invested heavily with them. blow one’s boiler • burst the boiler blow one’s boiler—(Austral. sl.) lose one’s temper; become very angry: When I saw how much she had spent shopping online, I really blew my boiler . burst the boiler —(U.S. sl.) overexert oneself: A man who is too lavish with his energy may be cautioned not to “burst the boiler .” blow someone away • blow someone off blow someone away—(sl.) 1. affect smb. with overwhelming enthusiasm: The whole idea just blew her away . 2. (Under- world) kill a person: The boss said we was to blow you away if you gives us any trouble. blow someone off—(sl.) 1. neglect or ignore a person: Don’t blow me off . Listen! I want it done now. 2. cheat or deceive a person: They blew off a young couple and conned a hundred bucks out of them. Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase blow someone out of the water—(sl.) 1. utterly surprise a per- son: To say the film exceeded my expectations is an under- statement; it completely blew me out of the water . 2. defeat a competitor decisively: They also believe that if they fall behind in the functionality race, the competition will blow them out of the water . blow someone’s brains out • blow someone’s mind blow someone’s brains out—kill smb. by shooting: Smith wouldn’t do anything so supposedly masculine as cold-blood- edly blow someone’s brains out with a shotgun. blow someone’s mind—cause excitement or the state of ec- stasy; overwhelm a person: The beauty of the African wildlife parks blew my mind completely during our trip. Blue Bird • bluebird Blue Bird—is used as a symbolical expression of happiness: All these ladies have tried to catch this same Blue Bird . bluebird—1. any of several birds that have blue feathers: We were fortunate to see such birds as a sky-blue mountain blue - bird . 2. (Drug users) a depressant; a blue capsule or tablet con- taining barbiturate: Here, this little bluebird will sing you to sleep. Note: The compound does not correlate in meaning with the phrase blue canaryan emergency worker (a firefighter or a law enforcement officer) whose death alerts other personnel to a haz- ardous situation (from the use of canaries in coal mines, whose death would alert miners to the presence of dangerous gases): The “blue canaries ,” as police and firefighters are sometimes called, would probably suffer heavy casualties until the (chemical) agent is identified. Blue Book • Project Blue Book Blue Book—1. a government publication providing infor- mation on some topic: The U.S. Department of State issued a heavily documented 40,000-word Blue Book . 2. a directory of persons of prominence, etc.: The Blue Book of British Broadcasting is a standard reference book of TV and radio stations. 3. a list of rules or requirements: When the document is sent to the Panel a charge is payable according to the scales set out in the Blue Book . Project Blue Book—the dossier that the U.S. Air Force main- tains on unidentified flying objects: “Project Blue Book ? Wasn’t that about UFOs?” Nick could hardly believe what he was hearing. blue boys • boys in blue blue boys —1. (coll.) the police: Four blue boys held me while a fifth slipped the cuffs on me. 2. (UK hist.) schoolboys of a charity school who wear blue coats (also: bluecoat boys): The school whose boys were known as “blue boys ,” was dissolved in the nineteenth century. boys in blue— = blue boys 1: How do you manage between clients who call the police “pigs” and your professional peers who regard them as upright boys in blue . blue coats • bluecoat boys blue coats —1. (coll.) the police: One of the blue coats would attempt to put back the crowd. 2. blue-coated seamen: These were blue coats —French—who were on shore for a visit. 3. (U.S. hist.) a soldier in the Federal army during the Civil War: Wait until the States are restored and the “Blue Coats ” are out of the way. bluecoat boys —(UK hist.) schoolboys of a charity school who wear blue coats (also: blue boys): The day after Christmas Day was a high day with us as Bluecoat boys . We then received our yearly new coat and cap… blue devil • blue devils blue devil —1. (also: blueweed) a coarse prickly weed with spikes of blue flowers: Blue devil is a coarse biennial Old World herb introduced as a weed in eastern North America. 2. (Drug users) a blue capsule or tablet containing barbiturate (also: bluebird): I am spending far less than I was while taking those little blue devil pills. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase blue devil fish—a reef fish (Paraplesiops bleekeri) inhab- iting exposed reefs from 3 to 30 meters deep: Blue devil fish are easily identified by the blue and white-banded body with yel- low pectoral fins. blue devils —1. a feeling of depression; despondency: By the time that he had eaten his soup and drank a glass of wine, he had got rid of the fit of blue devils . 2. the apparitions seen in delirium tremens: They, by a continued series of intoxication, become subject to what is popularly called the Blue Devils . blue heavens • blue skies blue heavens —(Drug users) blue capsules or tablets contain- ing barbiturate: Amobarbital tablets and capsules are called “blue birds,” “blue devils,” or “blue heavens .” blue skies —(also: blue sky) 1. said of impractical or unfeasible plans and ideas: The research amounted to a “blue skies ” proj- ect because it involved going beyond the present capacity of the reactor design. 2. (U.S. stock market) is used of fake or worthless bonds and stocks: They were what I would term “blue sky and hot air” securities. blue laws • blue-sky laws blue laws —(U.S.) laws characterized by extreme strictness in matters of morals: Even the religious fanatics of Boston and the mad zealots of Hertford christened them the “Blue Laws .” blue-sky laws —(U.S.) laws designed to prevent fraud in the sale of stocks: The “Blue Sky” law of Kansas prohibits the sale of stock or bonds of any company chartered outside the State. blue million • blue money blue million —(coll.) lots of money: West Virginia taxpayers have spent a blue million to provide computers to thousands of offices in state government. blue money —(U.S.) 1. money from the states whose residents predominantly vote for the Democratic Party, as contrasted blow off steam – 52 –