have blown

USAGE SUMMARY

"have blown" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
Here are a few examples: 1. The storm has blown over, leaving behind a trail of destruction. 2. We have blown our budget for this month, we'll have to cut back on expenses. 3. The referee blew the whistle to signal the end of the game. 4. The wind has blown the leaves off the trees, creating a beautiful autumn scene. 5. The opportunity to travel to different countries is one of the best perks of the job, which is why I have blown all my savings on it.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

They should have blown more.

The Guardian - Sport

"I would have blown up.

The New York Times

Those tax cuts have blown the budget.

The Guardian - Opinion

They still might have blown it.

The New York Times

The Dodgers may have blown a pennant.

The New York Times

Leaves have blown into a hallway.

The New York Times

He could have blown something up".

The New York Times - Books

But the Panthers have blown two fourth-quarter leads.

The New York Times - Sports

"Some of them have blown on the embers of racism".

The New Yorker

"The fans have blown life into these corpses," Sparks says.

The Guardian - Music

Pending an arbitrator's decision, he may have blown the opportunity.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have blown" to describe a missed opportunity, ensure the context clearly indicates what was lost and why it mattered. For example, "They "have blown" their chances of winning the championship.".

Common error

Avoid using "have blown" in contexts where a more neutral or positive verb would be appropriate. For instance, don't say "The company "have blown" expectations" when you mean they have greatly exceeded them; use "surpassed" or "exceeded" instead.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "have blown" is to serve as the present perfect tense of the verb "blow". It indicates an action that was completed at some point in the past and has relevance to the present, as Ludwig confirms.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have blown" is a versatile verb phrase, commonly used in the present perfect tense across various contexts. Ludwig's analysis, backed by numerous real-world examples, confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage, particularly in news and media. While it often carries negative connotations related to missed opportunities or failures, its precise meaning depends heavily on context. When writing, be mindful of the register and ensure that the phrase accurately reflects the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have squandered

Emphasizes the wasteful aspect of losing an opportunity or resource.

have missed

Focuses on the act of not seizing an opportunity.

have ruined

Highlights the destructive consequence of a mistake or failure.

have forfeited

Implies a loss due to a rule or specific condition not being met.

have dissipated

Suggests a gradual fading or vanishing of something.

have exhausted

Implies that all possibilities are over

have shattered

Highlights the complete destruction of something, often hopes or plans.

have nullified

Focuses on rendering something ineffective or invalid.

have negated

Emphasizes the cancellation or denial of something.

have bungled

Indicates a clumsy or incompetent handling of a situation.

FAQs

How can I use "have blown" in a sentence?

"Have blown" is often used to describe a missed opportunity, a failed attempt, or something being scattered by wind. For example: "They "have blown" their chance at promotion", "The storm "have blown" the leaves everywhere".

What's a less negative way to say "have blown"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "have missed", "have squandered", or "have lost" to soften the impact of ""have blown"".

Is it correct to say "had blown" instead of "have blown"?

Yes, "had blown" is correct in past perfect tense, indicating an action completed before another point in the past. "Have blown" is present perfect, indicating an action completed at some point before now.

What's the difference between "have blown" and "have blown away"?

"Have blown" typically implies a missed opportunity or something scattered, while "have blown away" usually means someone is deeply impressed or something is removed. The meaning changes with the added "away".