by blowing at

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by blowing at" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the action of expelling air towards something, often to create a specific effect or to interact with an object. Example: "The child made the paper sail move across the water by blowing at it gently."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

He taught them how to crow like a rooster by blowing at a blade of grass held between our thumbs, that black birch twigs were good to chew on, etc..

The New Yorker

He taught them how to crow like a rooster by blowing at a blade of grass held between our thumbs, that black birch twigs were good to chew on, etc.... View Article By Anthony Lane By Jia Tolentino By Rebecca Mead By John Cassidy.

The New Yorker

For example: See how long you can keep a piece of paper on the wall by blowing at it before it falls to the ground.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

His plan is to deal with strokes by blowing bubbles at them.

The Economist

Tableware tumblers are made by blowing glass at the end of a blowing pipe into a split paste-mold.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I've come to like seeing the light from the chicken house almost obliterated by blowing snow at dusk.

The New York Times

This is a hunting technique unique to humpbacks, who team up to trap a school of fish by blowing bubbles at them from all sides, and then scooping up the ensnared seafood in their enormous mouths.

Huffington Post

The process was carried out in a laboratory batch reactor (2 l) after air and moisture removing by blowing nitrogen gas at stirring and heating at 200 °C for 1 h.

Nanoscale Research Letters

He did not speak immediately to reporters but issued a statement later recognizing that he had been swept away by brisk winds blowing at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.

The New York Times

If all the wood has become charcoal, and if you still want the fire to keep going, make the charcoal glow red by poking and blowing at them, then put on some more tinder, kindling and firewood.

WikiHow

"To paraphrase Bart Simpson, it achieves the impossible by both sucking and blowing at the same time".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "by blowing at" when you want to describe a direct action of using breath or air to influence or interact with something. For instance, "He kept the balloon afloat by blowing at it gently."

Common error

Avoid using "by blowing at" interchangeably with "by blowing on" unless the context specifically implies directing air towards something, but not necessarily making physical contact. "Blowing on" often suggests contact or proximity, while "blowing at" implies direction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by blowing at" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or clause, indicating the method or means by which an action is performed. Ludwig provides examples where the phrase is used to describe how something is influenced by directed airflow.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "by blowing at" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to describe the action of directing air towards something. While Ludwig identifies that its occurrences are rare, it appears in diverse contexts, including news, science, and instructional content. The phrase serves to explain the method by which an action is performed and has a neutral register, suitable for various communication styles. Alternatives such as "by exhaling on" or "by puffing at" can provide nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by exhaling on

Replaces 'blowing' with 'exhaling', which emphasizes the act of breathing out.

by breathing on

Similar to 'exhaling', but can also imply a gentler action.

by puffing at

Uses 'puffing' suggesting a short, quick burst of air.

by directing air towards

More formal and descriptive, avoids the specific action of blowing.

by blasting air at

Implies a strong and forceful stream of air.

by wafting air at

Implies a gentle movement of air rather than a direct expulsion.

by streaming air toward

Similar to 'directing' but emphasizes continuous airflow.

by fanning air onto

Suggests the use of an object to create airflow.

by using a blower on

Specifies the use of a device to blow air.

by applying airflow to

Formal and technical, often used in scientific contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "by blowing at" in a sentence?

You can use "by blowing at" to describe directing a stream of air towards something, as in "The child tried to move the toy boat "by blowing at" it."

What's the difference between "by blowing at" and "by blowing on"?

"By blowing at" implies directing air towards something, while "by blowing on" often suggests making contact with the object or being very close to it. The choice depends on whether physical contact or proximity is part of the intended meaning.

What can I say instead of "by blowing at" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "by directing air towards" or "by applying airflow to", depending on the context.

Is "by blowing at" grammatically correct?

Yes, "by blowing at" is grammatically correct. It's a prepositional phrase that uses the gerund "blowing" after the preposition "by", followed by the preposition "at" to indicate the direction of the action.