blow up for boost

[ostap77]

Can we say that something blows up popularity instead of boosts popularity?

"The political debates on TV blew up his popularity."

 

[5jj]

Can we say that something blows up popularity instead of boosts popularity?

"The political debates on TV blew up his popularity."

No.

 

[ostap77]

No.

Can we use it for exaggerate something "The facts were blown up in the newspapers."?

 

[5jj]

Can we use it for exaggerate something "The facts were blown up in the newspapers."?

I waited before answering, in the hope that somebody else would do so convincingly first. Nobody has, so I'll have a go.

I don't think it's natural for facts to be blown up - facts are facts.

Incidents, affairs, problems, disagreements, etc can be blown up, sometimes out of (all) proportion, but not facts, IMO.

I hope others can either confirm my belief, or show it to be mistaken.

 

[Tdol]

I'll go along with that. ;-)