blow off steam

noun

1. water in the form of an invisible gas or vapor.
2. water changed to this form by boiling, extensively used for the generation of mechanical power, for heating purposes, etc.
3. the mist formed when the gas or vapor from boiling water condenses in the air.
4. an exhalation of a vapor or mist.
5. Informal. power or energy.

verb (used without object)

6. to emit or give off steam or vapor.
7. to rise or pass off in the form of steam or vapor.
8. to become covered with condensed steam, as a window or other surface (often followed by up).
9. to generate or produce steam, as in a boiler.
10. to move or travel by the agency of steam.
11. to move rapidly or evenly: He steamed out of the room.
12. Informal. to be angry or show anger: Fans are still steaming from Monday night’s sloppy 5-4 loss.

verb (used with object)

13. to expose to or treat with steam, as in order to heat, cook, soften, renovate, or the like.
14. to emit or exhale (steam or vapor).
15. Informal. to cause to become irked or angry (often followed by up).
16. to convey by the agency of steam: to steam the ship safely into port.

adjective

17. heated by or heating with steam: a steam radiator.
18. propelled by or propelling with a steam engine.
19. operated by steam.
20. conducting steam: a steam line.
21. bathed with or affected by steam.
22. of or relating to steam.

Idioms

23. blow/let off steam, Informal. to give vent to one’s repressed emotions, especially by talking or behaving in an unrestrained manner: Don’t take her remarks too seriously—she was just blowing off steam.

noun

1. the gas or vapour into which water is changed when boiled
2. the mist formed when such gas or vapour condenses in the atmosphere
3. any vaporous exhalation
4. informal power, energy, or speed
5. get up steam
   1. (of a ship, etc) to work up a sufficient head of steam in a boiler to drive an engine
   2. informalto go quickly
6. let off steam informal to release pent-up energy or emotions
7. under one’s own steam without the assistance of others
8. Australian slang cheap wine
9. (modifier) driven, operated, heated, powered, etc, by steama steam radiator
10. (modifier) treated by steamsteam ironed; steam cleaning
11. (modifier) jocular old-fashioned; outmodedsteam radio

verb

12. to emit or be emitted as steam
13. (intr) to generate steam, as a boiler, etc
14. (intr) to move or travel by steam power, as a ship, etc
15. (intr) informal to proceed quickly and sometimes forcefully
16. to cook or be cooked in steam
17. (tr) to treat with steam or apply steam to, as in cleaning, pressing clothes, etc

n.

Old English steam “vapor, fume,” from Proto-Germanic *staumaz (cf. Dutch stoom), of unknown origin. Steam age first attested 1941. Steam heat as a method of temperature control recorded from 1904.

v.

Old English stemen, stymen “to emit a scent or odor,” from the root of steam (n.). Slang meaning “to make angry” is from 1922. Related: Steamed; steaming.

1. Water in its gaseous state, especially at a temperature above the boiling point of water (above 100°C, or 212°F, at sea level). See Note at vapor.
2. A mist of condensed water vapor.

Also, let off steam. Air or relieve one’s pent-up feelings by loud talk or vigorous activity. For example, Joan’s shouting did not mean she was angry at you; she was just blowing off steam, or After spending the day on very exacting work, Tom blew off steam by going for a long run. This metaphoric term refers to easing the pressure in a steam engine. [Early 1800s]

see blow off steam; full speed (steam) ahead; get up steam; run out of steam; under one’s own steam.