like thunder
AdverbUsed to describe an action performed with immense intensity, force, or speed. It emphasizes a very high degree of effort or a very fast pace.
This adverb is used informally to modify verbs, intensifying the manner of the action. It is typically used in similes to create a vivid, emphatic comparison.
- The team worked like thunder to finish the project before the deadline.
- When the alarm sounded, he ran like thunder down the stairs.
- The new engine accelerates like thunder.
This phrase belongs to a set of informal, emphatic similes (e.g., like crazy, like hell, like sin) used for hyperbolic emphasis on speed or effort. It is more common in spoken or narrative English than in formal writing.
- like crazy (adv.): With great energy or speed.
- like hell (adv.): With extreme force or determination.
- like sin (adv.): Very quickly or intensely.
- like the devil (adv.): With fierce intensity or speed.
- Furiously
- Intensely
- Powerfully
- Wildly
- With great force
While "like thunder" itself is an idiomatic adverbial phrase, it is related to other thunder-based idioms: * Steal someone's thunder: To take attention or credit away from someone else. * He announced his own news and completely stole my thunder.
- with great speed or effort or intensity
- drove like crazy
- worked like hell to get the job done
- ran like sin for the storm cellar
- work like thunder
- fought like the devil