There’s also “the blow-off”, the last act in a sideshow, circus or carnival, the one that is designed so that people can be dismantling the stage, ring, tent or whatever while it is going on. I always assumed it was called that because the showfolk or carnies were preparing to “blow” town, meaning leave and sometimes, to leave quickly to avoid paying debts.
Sven:
February 3rd, 2018 at 12:06 am
There is a term in German that translates literally – “abblasen”. It stems from hunting terminology. The end of a hunt, or an early termination, would be announced by the hunting horns with a specific signal. I can imagine that this may be a possible source for the word.
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Joyce Melton:
December 27th, 2014 at 11:46 pm
There’s also “the blow-off”, the last act in a sideshow, circus or carnival, the one that is designed so that people can be dismantling the stage, ring, tent or whatever while it is going on. I always assumed it was called that because the showfolk or carnies were preparing to “blow” town, meaning leave and sometimes, to leave quickly to avoid paying debts.
Sven:
February 3rd, 2018 at 12:06 am
There is a term in German that translates literally – “abblasen”. It stems from hunting terminology. The end of a hunt, or an early termination, would be announced by the hunting horns with a specific signal. I can imagine that this may be a possible source for the word.