‘Have a Blast’: Definition, Meaning, and Examples

Did someone tell you to ‘have a blast’? What does this mean? Is it a good thing or a bad thing?

‘Have a blast’ is a phrase that means to have a ton of fun or a very exciting time. If someone tells you to ‘have a blast,’ it means they’re wishing you a good time!

What Does 'Have a Blast' Mean?

The phrase ‘have a blast’ means to have an exciting time or a lot of fun. If you asked someone how their weekend was and they said, “I ‘had a blast’!” it means that they had a great time.

‘Have a blast’ can be used as a way to tell someone that they hope they have fun doing something they are going to do in the near future. For example, if your coworker tells you that they are visiting their childhood friends for the weekend, you might say, “I hope you ‘have a blast’!”

In some circumstances, though, ‘have a blast’ can be used sarcastically. This is the case with many English phrases that are optimistic and positive. In order to determine whether someone is saying ‘have a blast’ sarcastically or genuinely, you have to analyze the tone and the context.

For example, let’s say that you just told your coworker that the boss is making you stay late to finish up paperwork. They might say, ‘geez, I hope you ‘have a blast’” to sarcastically communicate that they understand it won’t be a lot of fun.

Another example would be if your car broke down on the side of the road, and your friend came to help out. When they show up and ask you how you're doing, you might say, "oh, I'm 'having a blast'" as a sarcastic way to express your frustration at the unexpected and unwanted occurrence.

Where Does 'Have a Blast' Come From?

The word ‘blast’ has several definitions, which are:

1. Noun: Highly compressed air that spreads outward from an explosion in a destructive wave
2. Noun: A powerful gust of air or wind
3. Noun: A single, very loud note from a noisemaking device
4. Noun: (informal) A severe reprimand
5. Noun: (informal) A lively party or an enjoyable experience
6. Verb: Break apart or blow up with explosives
7. Verb: Make an extremely loud noise; be very loud
8. Verb: Strike, kick, or throw (a ball) with force
9. Verb: (informal) to fiercely criticize
10. Verb: (literary) shrivel, wither, or blight (a plant), used to describe a natural force

As you can see, the meaning that is most relevant to our idiom ‘have a blast’ is the definition listed in the fifth bullet. The usage of the word ‘blast’ to mean a good time or a lively party is primarily used in North American English.

It's worth noting that the word ‘blast’ is used as an exclamation in British English to express annoyance.

The use of the word ‘blast’ to mean “explosion” dates back to the 1630s. It wasn’t until 300 years later in 1953, though, that the American English slang definition of “good time” or “noisy party” emerged.

While the initial use of ‘blast’ in the 1950s referred to a wild party, the meaning shifted by the late 1960s to simply refer to a good time.

Therefore, when people say ‘have a blast’ they are essentially saying ‘have a good time.’

Examples of 'Have a Blast' In Sentences

How would you use the phrase ‘have a blast’ in a sentence? Let’s take a look at some examples:

• “I hope you have a blast on your date tonight, Mary! Remember, tomorrow I’ll expect you to spill the tea and tell me how it went.”
• “Samantha was worried she was just going to be wasting time going to the party, but she actually had a blast.”
• “I know that you’re nervous about your big trip, but there’s no better time to go on an adventure. You’re young and in the pink of health– I know you’re going to have a blast!”
• “Going for a drive through the countryside when the sun was rising really made my day. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but I had a blast!”
• “It sucks that you’ve been working so hard recently; I can tell you’re on the brink of burnout. I think you should take a few days, get out of town, and let yourself let loose and  have a blast.”

Other Ways to Say 'Have a Blast'

There are a lot of other ways to say, ‘have a blast.’ Here are some examples:

• Have fun
• Have a marvelous time
• Go nuts
• Have a great time
• Go bonkers
• Enjoy yourself
• Cut loose
• Knock yourself out
• Let loose

Are you ‘having a blast’ learning new English phrases? If so, make sure you check out our idioms blog!