thunder
Related to thunder: thunderbird
(as) black as thunder
Full of rage or hostility, likened to the black clouds that accompany thunderstorms. When I looked up, his face was as black as thunder, and I knew that I was in trouble.
See also: black, thunder
(one's) face is like thunder
One has an extremely angry or hostile expression on one's face. When I looked up, his face was like thunder, and I knew that I was in trouble. The president's face was like thunder when the prime minister finished his speech.
See also: face, like, thunder
a face like thunder
A facial expression that shows one's anger or hostility. When I looked up, he had a face like thunder, and I knew that I was in trouble.
See also: face, like, 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
have a face like thunder
To have a facial expression that shows one's anger or hostility. When I looked up, he had a face like thunder, and I knew that I was in trouble.
See also: face, have, like, thunder
look (as) black as thunder
To have a facial expression that conveys rage or hostility, likened to the black clouds that accompany thunderstorms. His face looked as black as thunder, and I knew that I was in trouble. She looked black as thunder as we informed her of the bank's decision.
See also: black, look, thunder
risk of (some inclement weather)
A significant chance of some kind of unpleasant weather, such as rain, snow, lightning, etc., occurring. I just heard that there's a risk of rain tomorrow. I hope our football game doesn't get canceled. You should never set off on a hike when there's a risk of lightning.
See also: of, risk
son of thunder
A speaker who attracts listeners by using an impassioned, often aggressive, delivery. The phrase originated in the Bible. I can't listen to that son of thunder bluster about his idiotic worldview anymore. A son of thunder has everyone mesmerized in the town square right now.
See also: of, son, thunder
steal (one's) thunder
1. To garner the attention or praise that one had been expecting or receiving for some accomplishment, announcement, etc. My brother is the star athlete of our high school, so no matter what I succeed in, he's constantly stealing my thunder. We were about to announce our engagement when Jeff and Tina stole our thunder and revealed that they were going to have a baby.
2. To steal one's idea, plan, or intellectual property and use it for profit or some benefit. We had the idea for "digital paper" years ago, but I see they've stolen our thunder and have their own version of it on the market.
See also: steal, thunder
thunder across
To move quickly across (something or some place) while making extremely loud, reverberating sounds from the vehicle's engine. A bunch of motorcycles thundered across the rickety bridge. The tranquility of the night sky was shattered when the fighter jet came thundering across.
See also: across, thunder
thunder out
1. To exit (something or some place) very quickly while making extremely loud, reverberating sounds. They jumped into the firetruck and thundered out of the station. The silo doors opened and the rocket thundered out into the night sky.
2. To say or shout something in a very deep, booming voice. A noun or pronoun can be used between "thunder" and "out." The director thundered out her commands to the actors on the stage. I wish the boss wouldn't thunder his criticisms out like that—I'd prefer it if the entire office didn't hear about my latest shortcomings.
See also: out, thunder
thunder past
To move quickly past (someone or something) while making extremely loud, reverberating sounds, often caused by a vehicle's engine. Everyone came out to the street to watch the huge fleet of motorcycles go thundering past. We live right next to the interstate, so trucks thunder past us at all hours of the night.
See also: past, thunder
thunder-boomer
A thunderstorm. Sometimes spelled as a single word. The kids always get nervous when they hear a thunder-boomer outside, so I play a game with them to help calm their nerves. The plane is grounded until this thunderboomer passes us by.
thunderbox
dated slang A crude or rudimentary outdoor or portable toilet. The general used to get such bad constipation that he would shout his orders while still atop the thunderbox. There was a marvelous sense of freedom doing your business on the thunderbox while you stared up at the night sky.
thunder-thighs
1. slang Fat or chubby thighs. I really want to get rid of these thunder-thighs, so I've resolved to start eating healthy and exercising three times a week. Their three-month-old has the cutest little thunder-thighs you've ever seen!
2. slang Someone with particularly fat or chubby thighs. Gosh, you were quite the thunder-thighs when you were a baby, huh? A: "Maybe you should lay off the fast food, thunder-thighs." B: "What kind of creep actually says that to someone?"
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
risk of rain
and risk of showers; risk of thunder(-storms)a chance of precipitation. (Used only in weather forecasting. There is no "risk" of hazard or injury involved.) And for tomorrow, there is a slight risk of showers in the morning. There is a 50 percent risk of rain tonight.
See also: of, rain, risk
steal someone's thunder
Fig. to lessen someone's force or authority. What do you mean by coming in here and stealing my thunder? I'm in charge here! someone stole my thunder by leaking my announcement to the press.
See also: steal, thunder
thunder across something
Fig. to move across something, making a rumbling sound. The jets thundered across the sky, heading for their home base. As the race car thundered across the track, people strained to get a better view.
See also: across, thunder
thunder past someone or something
Fig. to move past someone or something, rumbling. As the traffic thundered past, I wondered why there was so much of it. The train thundered past the sleeping town.
See also: past, thunder
thunder something out
Fig. to respond with words spoken in a voice like thunder. He thundered the words out so everyone could hear them. He thundered out the words.
See also: out, thunder
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
steal someone's thunder
Use or appropriate another's idea, especially to one's advantage, as in It was Harold's idea but they stole his thunder and turned it into a massive advertising campaign without giving him credit . This idiom comes from an actual incident in which playwright and critic John Dennis (1657-1734) devised a "thunder machine" (by rattling a sheet of tin backstage) for his play, Appius and Virginia (1709), and a few days later discovered the same device being used in a performance of Macbeth, whereupon he declared, "They steal my thunder."
See also: steal, thunder
thunder
see under steal someone's thunder.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
blood and thunder
BRITISHIf 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
a face like thunder
BRITISHIf someone has a face like thunder, they look extremely angry. The kitchen had flooded and Mick was stalking around the house with a face like thunder. Mr Clarke had a face like thunder after his assistant's mistake.
See also: face, like, thunder
steal someone's thunder
If someone steals your thunder, they do something that stops you from getting attention or praise, often by doing something better or more exciting than you, or by doing what you had intended to do before you can do it. It's too late for rivals to take advantage. They couldn't steal our thunder. Note: You can also say that someone steals the thunder from you. I think O'Connor will steal some of the thunder from Read, as his book is out first. Note: This expression may come from an incident in the early 18th century. A British playwright, John Dennis, invented a new way of making the sound of thunder for his play `Appius and Virginia'. However, the play was unsuccessful and soon closed. Soon afterwards, Dennis went to see a production of `Macbeth' by another company and found that they had stolen his idea for making thunder sounds. He is said to have jumped up and accused them of stealing his thunder.
See also: steal, thunder
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
blood and thunder
unrestrained and violent action or behaviour, especially in sport or fiction. informalBlood 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
steal someone's thunder
win praise for yourself by pre-empting someone else's attempt to impress.The critic and playwright John Dennis ( 1657–1734 ) invented a new method of simulating the sound of thunder in the theatre, which he employed in his unsuccessful play Appius and Virginia. Shortly after his play had finished its brief run, Dennis attended a performance of Macbeth in which the improved thunder effect was used, and he is reported to have exclaimed in a fury: ‘Damn them! They will not let my play run, but they steal my thunder.’
See also: steal, 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
his, her, etc. face is like ˈthunder
,he, she, etc. has a face like ˈthunder
somebody looks very angry: ‘What’s wrong with Julia?’ ‘I don’t know, but she’s had a face like thunder all morning.’See also: face, like, thunder
steal somebody’s ˈthunder
spoil somebody’s attempt to surprise or impress, by doing something first: He had planned to tell everyone about his discovery at the September meeting, but his assistant stole his thunder by talking about it beforehand.In the eighteenth century, the writer John Dennis invented a machine that made the sound of thunder for use in his new play. The play was not a success, and was taken off and replaced by another play. When Dennis went to see the other play, he was angry to hear his thunder machine being used and complained that ‘...they will not let my play run, but they steal my thunder’.See also: steal, thunder
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
thunder-boomer
n. a thunderstorm. There will be thunder-boomers in the boonies tonight.
thunderbox
n. a portable stereo radio, often played very loudly in public. (see also boom box.) Someday I’m going to smash one of these thunderboxes!
thunder-thighs
n. big or fat thighs. (Cruel. Also a rude term of address.) Here, thunder-thighs, let me get you a chair or two.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
steal (someone's) thunder
To use, appropriate, or preempt the use of another's idea, especially to one's own advantage and without consent by the originator.
See also: steal, thunder
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
steal someone's thunder, to
To ruin or detract from the effect of someone’s accomplishment by anticipating or copying it. This term originated in the early eighteenth-century theater, and the story behind it has been told by numerous writers. John Dennis (1657–1734), a critic and playwright, had devised a “thunder machine” for his play Appius and Virginia (1709); it consisted of rattling a sheet of tin backstage. The play failed, but a few nights later the same effect was used in a production of Macbeth, which Dennis attended and which prompted him to say, “They steal my thunder!” The term was subsequently used for similar situations and remained current long after its origin had been forgotten. Almost synonymous is the much newer to steal the show, meaning to outshine everyone else in a performance or at some event. It dates from the first half of the 1900s. The steal portion of this term implies that one is taking attention away from all the others.
See also: steal
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- (as) black as thunder
- look (as) black as thunder
- pitch black
- be in (one's) black books
- be in someone's black books
- in (someone's) black books
- BLM
- black and blue
- black-and-blue
- (as) black as the minister's coat