http://www.word-detective.com/2014/05/blow-off/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Wed, 28 Apr 2021 23:37:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.1 http://www.word-detective.com/2014/05/blow-off/comment-page-1/#comment-660148 Sat, 03 Feb 2018 05:06:39 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=9648#comment-660148 There is a term in German that translates literally – “abblasen”. It stems from hunting terminology. The end of a hunt, or an early termination, would be announced by the hunting horns with a specific signal. I can imagine that this may be a possible source for the word.

]]> http://www.word-detective.com/2014/05/blow-off/comment-page-1/#comment-78388 Sun, 28 Dec 2014 04:46:44 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=9648#comment-78388 There’s also “the blow-off”, the last act in a sideshow, circus or carnival, the one that is designed so that people can be dismantling the stage, ring, tent or whatever while it is going on. I always assumed it was called that because the showfolk or carnies were preparing to “blow” town, meaning leave and sometimes, to leave quickly to avoid paying debts.

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