thunderbolt
thunderbolt — noun
1. a single brilliant streak of electricity in the sky during a storm, shown as a s
a single brilliant streak of electricity in the sky during a storm, shown as a sudden bright flash that is followed closely by a loud crash of thunder
A thunderbolt lit up the whole valley for just a brief moment.
During the storm, Wei saw a thunderbolt split the sky above the rice fields.
pattern: thunderbolt + split / tear across / light up [area]
The old oak tree caught fire instantly when the thunderbolt struck it.
Faisal counted five seconds between the thunderbolt and the sound of thunder.
Hoa's dog hid under the bed after a thunderbolt exploded nearby.
- lightning
broader term referring to the flash only, not necessarily with thunder
- thunderclap
focuses on the loud sound rather than the visual flash
- bolt of lightning
similar meaning but emphasises the linear shape of the strike
文法句型
a thunderbolt + verb of impact (struck / hit / crashed)
X + struck by a thunderbolt
用法筆記
Describes a single lightning strike with its accompanying thunder — not used for continuous thunder or for lightning without sound. Frequently found in weather descriptions and mythological references.
常見錯誤
2. a piece of news or a sudden event that arrives so unexpectedly that it shocks pe
a piece of news or a sudden event that arrives so unexpectedly that it shocks people greatly, often changing how they understand a situation
The news of the bank's collapse came as a thunderbolt to the small town.
pattern: [news/event] + came as a thunderbolt + [to someone]
Without any warning, the divorce papers arrived like a thunderbolt for Rania.
The company's sudden closure was a thunderbolt for all its employees.
The CEO's unexpected resignation hit the team like a thunderbolt on Monday morning.
- bombshell
similar intensity, more common in news headlines and gossip
- bolt from the blue
idiom with the same core meaning, emphasising complete lack of warning
- shock
broader term covering anything from mild surprise to deep trauma
- expectation
something anticipated or foreseen
- forewarning
an advance notice that removes the element of surprise
文法句型
came as a thunderbolt [to someone]
hit [someone] like a thunderbolt
was a thunderbolt for [someone]
用法筆記
Often used in the fixed expressions 'came as a thunderbolt,' 'hit like a thunderbolt,' or 'was a thunderbolt.' Particularly common in news reporting and personal narratives about life-changing surprises. The closely related idiom 'a bolt from the blue' carries the same figurative meaning.