Blow-by-blow account

Meaning

The idiom "blow-by-blow account" refers to a detailed description of events, often given by someone who has witnessed or experienced the events firsthand. It is typically used when describing a series of actions that took place in a specific order or sequence. The figurative meaning is that the account is being given blow-by-blow like a series of gusts of wind.

Usage

• The manager gave a blow-by-blow account of the meeting, including all the key points and decisions made.
• The journalist was on hand to provide a blow-by-blow account of the race, keeping viewers up to speed with every move.
• In court, witnesses were asked to give a blow-by-blow account of the incident they had witnessed.
• When presenting a project, it's important to provide a blow-by-blow account of the steps you took and the results you achieved.
• The coach provided a blow-by-blow account of the game, highlighting the team's strengths and weaknesses.

Roots and History

The idiom "blow-by-blow" dates back to the early 20th century and is believed to have originated from the military. During World War I, pilots would receive detailed accounts of enemy movements and positions, blow-by-blow like a series of gusts of wind. Over time, the phrase came to be used in everyday language to describe a detailed account of any sequence of events.

Synonyms in English

• Play-by-play
• Step-by-step
• Line-by-line
• Verbatim
• Transcript

Synonyms in other languages

• En français: détaillé (detailed), chronologique (chronological)
• In italiano: dettagliato (detailed), cronologico (chronological)
• In Español: detallado (detailed), cronológico (chronological)
• In Portuguese: detalhado (detailed), cronológico (chronological)
• In German: genau (exact), chronologisch (chronological)

Similar Idioms

• by the way

• body and soul

• before one can say Jack Robinson