thunderbolt

Everyday

1. A flash of lightning together with a crash of thunder. tree →
2. Something sudden and shocking: the news came like a thunderbolt. tree →
3. (myths) A bolt of lightning thrown as a weapon by a god, such as Zeus in Greek myths or Thor in Norse myths. tree →

In the lessons

Science: lightning is a giant spark of electricity; thunder is the sound it makes. Safety: in a storm stay indoors and away from tall trees. Myths: Zeus hurls thunderbolts. Stories: «like a thunderbolt» shows a big surprise.

Examples

• A thunderbolt struck the old oak. tree →
• Zeus threw thunderbolts from Mount Olympus. tree →
• The news hit us like a thunderbolt. tree →
• Thor's hammer made thunder and lightning. tree →
• The thunderbolt lit up the whole sky. tree →
• Toad's arrest came like a thunderbolt to his friends. tree →
• The Caliph's commandment fell upon me like a thunderbolt. tree →

Note

Compound: thunder + bolt. Real lightning is not a solid object; «bolt» is just a picture. Myth: lightning never strikes the same place twice — false; tall buildings are struck many times.