A_Idioms 17_Blood-Blow

to make somebody extremely angry

The way he treats his employees really makes my blood boil.

• make somebody’s blood boil

• make somebody’s blood run cold

• new/fresh blood

• spill (somebody’s) blood

to make somebody very frightened or fill them with horror

The sound of laughter in the empty house made my blood run cold.

• spit venom/blood

• make somebody’s blood run cold

• new/fresh blood

• spill (somebody’s) blood

​new members or employees, especially young ones, with new ideas or ways of doing things

This company badly needs to bring in some new blood.

• spit venom/blood

• stir the blood

• new/fresh blood

• spill (somebody’s) blood

(formal or literary) to kill or wound somebody

Nothing can justify spilling innocent blood.

• spit venom/blood

• stir the blood

• sweat blood

• spill (somebody’s) blood

​to show that you are very angry; to speak in an angry way

She looked at him with eyes that spat venom.

• spit venom/blood

• stir the blood

• sweat blood

• blow your/somebody’s brains out

​to make somebody excited

The atmosphere in a theatre never failed to stir her blood.

• blow chunks

• stir the blood

• sweat blood

• blow your/somebody’s brains out

(informal) to work very hard

I sweated blood to get everything ready in time.

• blow chunks

• blow/clear the cobwebs away

• sweat blood

• blow your/somebody’s brains out

to kill yourself/somebody by shooting yourself/them in the head

He put a gun to his head and threatened to blow his brains out.

• blow chunks

• blow/clear the cobwebs away

• blow a fuse

• blow your/somebody’s brains out

(North American English, slang) to vomit

• blow chunks

• blow/clear the cobwebs away

• blow a fuse

• blow the gaff (on somebody/something)

​to help somebody have a fresh, lively state of mind again

A brisk walk should blow the cobwebs away.

• blow hot and cold (about something)

• blow/clear the cobwebs away

• blow a fuse

• blow the gaff (on somebody/something)