英语词汇blow off steam的起源、历史背景-英语词源词典

blow off steam. The diesels that have replaced steam engines have robbed us of the literal basis for this metaphor, but it’s still widely used. To blow off or let off steam is to have an emotional outburst, a psychological safety valve. This is reflected in the origins of the term, which goes back to the 1830s. Early steam locomotives had no safety valves and when steam pressure built too high in an engine, the engineer had to pull a hand lever to blow off steam to prevent an explosion. The angry-looking en- gine blowing off steam to save itself quickly suggested the colorful metaphor.

词汇	blow off steam
词源	blow off steam. The diesels that have replaced steam engines have robbed us of the literal basis for this metaphor, but it’s still widely used. To blow off or let off steam is to have an emotional outburst, a psychological safety valve. This is reflected in the origins of the term, which goes back to the 1830s. Early steam locomotives had no safety valves and when steam pressure built too high in an engine, the engineer had to pull a hand lever to blow off steam to prevent an explosion. The angry-looking en- gine blowing off steam to save itself quickly suggested the colorful metaphor.
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