thunderstroke
Definition
- Noun:
- A stroke of lightning: "thunderstroke" refers to a single instance of lightning striking the ground, often accompanied by thunder.
- A sudden, damaging event: By extension, it can mean a sudden calamity or disaster, as if struck by lightning.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The old oak tree was split by a thunderstroke during the storm. (A single lightning strike damaged the tree.)
- The news of the accident came like a thunderstroke, shocking everyone. (The sudden, devastating news felt like a bolt from the blue.)
Advanced Usage
"like a thunderstroke": used idiomatically to describe something sudden and shocking.
- His resignation hit the company like a thunderstroke. (His departure was abrupt and unexpected.)
"thunderstroke of fate": a poetic or literary phrase for a sudden, life-changing event.
- The loss of her fortune was a thunderstroke of fate from which she never recovered. (A sudden, severe misfortune.)
Variants and Related Words
- Thunderstroke has no common variants; it is a compound word from thunder (the sound following lightning) and stroke (a sudden action or blow).
- Thunderbolt (n): a flash of lightning with a simultaneous thunderclap, often used metaphorically.
- The announcement was a thunderbolt that stunned the audience. (A sudden, shocking piece of news.)
Synonyms
- Lightning strike: a direct hit by lightning.
- Bolt of lightning: a single discharge of lightning.
- Sudden blow: a metaphorical use for an unexpected calamity.
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs
- No common phrasal verbs are associated with "thunderstroke" due to its rare, literary usage.
- Related idiom: "a bolt from the blue" — something completely unexpected.
- The job offer came like a bolt from the blue. (It was a surprise.)
Note on Usage
"Thunderstroke" is an archaic or poetic term, rarely used in modern everyday English. It appears more often in literature or dramatic contexts to emphasize suddenness and force. For contemporary speech, "lightning strike" or "thunderbolt" are preferred.