take by storm, to
take someone or something by storm
1. Fig. to conquer someone or something in a fury. The army took city after city by storm. They crashed in and took the general by storm.
2. Fig. to succeed overwhelmingly with someone, some place, or a group. The singing star took the audience in each town by storm. The star took the critics by storm.
See also: by, storm, take
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
take by storm
Make a vivid impression on, quickly win popular acclaim or renown, as in The new rock group took the town by storm. This usage transfers the original military meaning of the phrase, "assault in a violent attack," to more peaceful endeavors. [Mid-1800s]
See also: by, storm, take
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
take by storm
To captivate completely: a new play that took New York City by storm.
See also: by, storm, take
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
take by storm, to
To become quickly famous or popular. The term originally came from the military, where to storm meant to lay siege to a fortified position. By the late nineteenth century, however, the term had been extended to mean winning renown or popular acclaim. Thus Augustus Jessop wrote (The Coming of the Friars, 1889), “The Franciscans . . . were taking the world by storm.”
See also: by, take
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- put on a good, poor, wonderful, etc. show
- put on a good/poor/etc. show
- The City that Never Sleeps
- pied-à-terre
- Headstone City
- look me up when you're in town
- the Eternal City
- slicker
- city slicker
- walk the streets