blood and thunder

blood and thunder

A spoken piece or performance that is loud and impassioned. I don't think you'll fall asleep during this play—I hear it's all blood and thunder.
See also: and, blood, thunder
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

blood and thunder

BRITISH
If you talk about blood and thunder in a performance, you mean powerful emotions, especially anger. Coach Berti Vogts grew increasingly frustrated with an absence of blood and thunder from his team. Note: You can also talk about a blood-and-thunder performance or performer. In a blood-and-thunder speech, he called for sacrifice from his people.
See also: and, blood, thunder
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

blood and thunder

unrestrained and violent action or behaviour, especially in sport or fiction. informal
Blood and thunder is often used to describe sensational literature, and in the late 19th century gave rise to penny bloods as a term for cheap sensational novels.
See also: and, blood, thunder
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

blood and ˈthunder

(informal) sensational and very dramatic incidents in plays, films/movies, stories, contests, etc: I don’t like blood-and-thunder novels.
See also: and, blood, thunder
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • the sandman's coming
  • go out like a light
  • sound asleep
  • be in the Land of Nod
  • dead asleep
  • in the Land of Nod
  • read (oneself) to sleep
  • read oneself to sleep
  • catch flies
  • get (one's) head down
References in periodicals archive
The goalless first half under the new head coach was not the blood and thunder often preferred by the Tartan Army, who had to exercise patience.
SCOTS KOP KING
The goalless first-half here under McLeish's replacement as head coach was not full of the blood and thunder typically demanded by the Tartan Army, who had to exercise patience.
KOP KING ANDY OFF MARK
He told The Chronicle: "It's a derby game so it will be blood and thunder.
22pt head in here over 3 decks hghgh; EBAC NORTHERN LEAGUE PREVIEW
CHARLTON U23s 1 BLUES U23s 1 RICHARD Beale was pleased with his team's ability to cope with a "blood and thunder" game at Charlton to leave Greenwich Borough with a draw.
It's a point well made for Beale battlers
"It'll be a hundred miles an hour, blood and thunder stuff.
Allan: Jambo clash is biggest of my career
Not like the old days when it was blood and thunder and you could have a go off each other and come in afterwards.
RANT OF THE WEEK
Spurs v Arsenal Today, 4pm TIM SHERWOOD wants today's north London derby with Arsenal to be a "blood and thunder" encounter as he believes that will give Tottenham the edge.
'Blood and thunder'
Tim Sherwood is demanding blood and thunder at White Hart Lane today - to send Arsenal's creative players running for cover.
TIM ISSUES SPURS' STORM WARNING; Tottenham H v Arsenal Today, kick-off 4pm
SPURS v ARSENAL Today, 4pm, White Hart Lane TIM Sherwood wants today's north London derby to be a "blood and thunder" encounter as he believes that will give Tottenham the edge.
Sherwood hopes for fiery derby
The story is full of the blood and thunder that will appeal to fans of the action/adventure genre.
Hickam, Homer. The Far Reaches
IF THERE was ever a good time to catch in-form Wolves it would be 48 hours after giving their all in a blood and thunder derby with West Brom.
Our shout; Big Match Preview
Like a Cinemascope western, Blood and Thunder abounds in colorful characters, bristles with incident
Blood and Thunder
After two seasons of relative success in the Premiership, Bruce decided to tinker with the blood and thunder ethic that had served Blues so well and acquire players such as Jepser Gronkjaer, Mario Melchiot, Julian Gray, Jermaine Pennant and Jiri Jarosik in order to provide more craft to their undoubted toil.
Football: Bruce must go back to Blues' basics
In a TV interview, instead of being full of blood and thunder after roasting his players for a deplorable performance, he had a smile on his face, and was more interested in defending the team going on a sunshine break to Spain.
McClaren should have been angry
This was do-or-die football like it used to be - fast, furious, full of blood and thunder (and a fair bit of thud and blunder).
Fiery footy's Scot the lot