Learn English Idiom: Blow Off Some Steam

When we have something important coming up, we feel stressed and overwhelmed. Dont’ worry, we’ve all been there. It could have been because of an exam, presentation, or a sports match. You can get really stressed out by thinking about these events. What do you do when this happens? You have to blow off some steam! The idiom, blow off some steam, is a commonly used English expression in this kind of situation. Continue reading to learn everything about blow off some steam, including its meaning and origin.

Blow Off Some Steam

When you are overwhelmed or stressed, you probably will want to take a break from constantly thinking about that, right? Some great ways are to talk to a friend, go for a hike, or play a game. When you need to take a break from the stress, we can say that you need to blow off some steam.

What is steam?

Steam refers to the hot gas produced when you boil hot water. We can see steam when boiling a kettle. Also, most of the trains were steam-powered up until mid 20th century. Kids would call these trains ‘choo choo trains’ because the train made a choo-choo sound when it released steam.

Meaning of Blow Off Some Steam

Blowing off some steam means releasing thoughts or feelings through loud talking or strong action. Some people do this by yelling loudly about something frustrating or playing video games after a tough day.

Origin of Blow Off Some Steam

The origin of ‘blow off some steam’ goes back up to the 1800s which was the early days of railroads. During this time, trains had no safety valves. So, engineers had to release or blow off steam every once in a while to prevent an explosion. If they didn’t release the steam, the train had a good chance of blowing up!

This is similar to human feelings. If don’t let go of stress or overwhelming feelings, it can mentally and physically affect us (in a negative way)! So, it is important to blow off some steam once in a while and do something relieving.

Fun fact: The steam engine was invented in 1774, and the first train with it was seen in Wales in 1804.

Blow Off Some Steam Examples

Here are some example sentences using blow off some steam:

• After a tough day of hard work, I went for a walk to blow off some steam.
• She likes to play computer games to blow off some steam before an important sports match.
• When I get overwhelmed with studying for exams, I like to go out with my friends to blow off some steam.

Other English Idioms, Expressions, Vocabulary

If you want to learn more idioms or improve your English vocabulary, check out these articles as well!

• English Idiom: Turn a blind eye
• English Idiom: A dime a dozen
• Confusing English Words
• English Expressions: Asking for permission

FAQs About Blow Off Some Steam

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the English expression ‘blow off some steam.’

What does blowing off some steam mean?

Blowing off some steam means releasing thoughts or feelings through loud talking or strong action. It usually refers to doing something to relieve stress.

How do you blow off some steam?

Here are some good ways to blow off some steam:

1. go outside
2. hit the gym
3. meditate
4. hangout with friends or talk to someone
5. do something that entertains you

How do you use ‘blow off some steam’ in a sentence?

Here are some examples of blow off some steam in a sentence:

• I went to the gym after work yesterday to blow off some steam.
• If school assignments are stressing you out, blow off some steam by going bowling with us tomorrow!
• Sam mediates every night. It’s his way of blowing off some steam.

Blow Off Some Steam Meaning: Join the Conversation

What are your thoughts on this idiom: blow off some steam? Have you ever heard someone using this in a sentence? Now that you know a new expression, try making a sentence using ‘blow off some steam.’ If there is another idiom you want to learn about, let us know in the comments. We’d love to hear from you!