ə boʊlt frəm ðə bluː
Nature & Weather
neutral
intermediate
- Literally:
- A lightning bolt coming from a clear blue sky
What does "a bolt from the blue" mean?
- A sudden, unexpected event or piece of news
- Something completely surprising and unforeseen
Examples
- The announcement of layoffs came as a bolt from the blue.
- His marriage proposal was a bolt from the blue—we'd only dated for a month!
- The company's bankruptcy was a bolt from the blue for investors.
Origin
Derived from the rare phenomenon of lightning striking from a clear sky. Used metaphorically since the early 19th century to describe sudden, shocking surprises. Thomas Carlyle used it in 'The French Revolution' (1837).
How to use it
Often used for shocking news, whether positive or negative. Common in journalism and everyday speech.
Similar expressions
out of the blue
unexpected surprise
thunderbolt
Opposites
expected outcome
anticipated result
Related idioms
- out of the blue
Unexpectedly; without warning
- beat around the bush
To avoid talking about the main point of a conversation
- every cloud has a silver lining
There is something positive in every negative situation
- go with the flow
To accept things as they are and adapt accordingly
- once in a blue moon
Very rarely; almost never
- tip of the iceberg
A small visible part of a much larger hidden problem
Use it in a practice answer
Try "a bolt from the blue" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.