blow wide open

blow (something) wide open

1. To expose something scandalous or deceptive. That company's stock price plummeted after the media blew the CEO's embezzlement scandal wide open. An anonymous tip to the police is what blew the theft ring wide open. She is known for blowing the government's massive cover-up wide open.
2. To make the outcome of a competition hard to predict. Having so many outstanding teams in the playoffs this year has really blown the field wide open. The pundits don't know which candidate is going to win now that this newcomer has blown everything wide open. Wow, and that skier was favored to win too. Her disqualification has blown this Downhill race wide open!
See also: blow, open, wide
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

blow something wide open

 and bust something wide open
Sl. to expose corrupt practices or a secret plan; to put an end to corruption. The press is trying to blow the town wide open, and the feds are trying to hush them up so they can move about in secret. I'm going to bust this racket wide open.
See also: blow, open, wide
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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References in periodicals archive ?
But when it comes out that Viktor was notoriously rude, the doors blow wide open with potential suspects who could've wanted him dead.
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If he does run for president, it could blow wide open an election in which France's traditional mainstream parties — the Socialists and conservatives Les Republicains — are under threat from far right National Front leader Marine Le Pen.
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Unless it's in the pages of IDW Publishing's "X-Files: Conspiracy,'' a sprawling six-part story that sees the Lone Gunmen trio attempting to blow wide open rumors of Transformers, Ghostbusters and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles -- among others -- to a public that has been kept in the dark.
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This newspaper will give every ounce of support to your efforts to blow wide open this abhorrent activity.
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And Ellis's tough stance is threatening to blow wide open the chairman/manager rift which has flared up several times in the past.
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"The case will blow wide open the secret workings of Special Branch," said a senior RUC officer.
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FORMER Tory leader Rod Richards is writing an explosive book to blow wide open the politics of the Conservative Party in Wales.
ROD'S TORY BOMBSHELL; EXCLUSIVE Rottweiler Richards plans book to stick knife in Conservatives
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