Today we talk about “steam .” Steam is water heated to the boiling point . Above 100 degrees Celsius , water becomes a gas . When placed under pressure , steam can supply energy for heating , cooking , or mechanical work , as in a steam engine . “Steam ” can mean other things too . It can be used to mean anger or to describe someone who is angry . For example , it is not healthy to get steamed over every little issue . Life is too short . Every time a friend of mine receives criticism , she gets steamed for a while . When I learned this about her , I knew to give her time and space to calm down after giving her any suggestions . “Steam ” can also mean energy , active force , or motivation . This kind of steam is good for getting things done . For example , I once led a large group of people in a big creative project . I told the team what was needed . I wanted to encourage them to get started . So , I said to them , “Full steam ahead !” But it is also easy to “lose steam ” if you don't plan well . Once , I started a project in the spring but by summer I had run out of steam . I did not have the energy or motivation to finish . Steam can also mean suppressed emotional tension or frustrations . Life can be busy and full of frustrations and problems . If we don't talk about them , pressure can build up inside us – like a volcano that is ready to blow its top . When we blow our top , we become angry , often quickly . So , sometimes we need to “let off a little steam .” We need to ease the tension . When we let off steam , we release feelings that we may have been avoiding . We can also say , we need to “blow off steam .” When we blow or let off steam , we calm down or release emotions or energy by doing something we like . So , when life gets frustrating , I like to go for a walk to blow off some steam . But some people may like to yell to let off steam . For some people , blowing off steam is hard to do . They don't know how to relax or calm down . Blowing off steam can mean that we “air out ” issues that are bothering us . To air out concerns is a way of easing the pressure in our steam engine . It means to discuss our thoughts openly , so we feel better .