"blow away" vs. "blow over"

[Peter]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #88 "Common English Errors (4)", question 3

She was hoping the terrible argument would ......... before the wedding.

(a) blow away
(b) blow over
(c) carry away
(d) blow down

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #88 "Common English Errors (4)", answer 3

She was hoping the terrible argument would blow over before the wedding.

Correct answer: (b) blow over

Your answer was: incorrect
She was hoping the terrible argument would blow away before the wedding.
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please kindly explain to me why is blow over here.thanks a lot.

peter

[Alan]

Hi,

Blow away means literally remove by some kind of wind as in: The wind has blown away the newspaper from the table. Blow over is a phrasal verb suggesting disappear, be forgotten as in:

The story in the newspaper will soon be forgotten and by next month the scandal will have blown over.

Alan
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