blew out of the water
Crushed the competition
To blow something out of the water is to destroy it completely or defeat it decisively, from the image of a naval vessel exploding under cannon fire.
The phrase often describes surpassing expectations or competitors by a wide margin: Her presentation blew the others out of the water.
The sequel blew the original out of the water.
- excelledPerformed exceptionally well
- trouncedDefeated decisively
- defeatedOvercome in contest
- triumphedAchieved decisive victory
- crushedCompressed into fragments
sank · dominated · wiped out · shattered · surpassed · outshined · obliterated · routed · bested · demolished · stole the show · annihilated · conquered · wrecked · hit it out of the park · overwhelmed · outperformed · left for dead