bolt from the blue

Noun CEFR C2

Definitions

A complete surprise; something totally unexpected.

idiomatic, informal

Equivalents

Españolcomo rayo caído del cielo

DeutschBlitz aus heiterem Himmel

Portuguêsimprevisto

12 more languages

Češtinablesk z čistého nebe

Ελληνικάκεραυνός εν αιθρία

Suomisalama kirkkaalta taivaalta

Gàidhligclach às an adhar

हिन्दीदैवयोग

Magyarderült égből villámcsapás

Íslenskaeins og skrattinn úr sauðaleggnum eins og þruma úr heiðríkju eins og þruma úr heiðskíru lofti

日本語寝耳に水青天の霹靂

한국어청천 벽력과 같이 청천벽력

Nederlandsdonderslag bij heldere hemel

Românădin senin

Русскийгром среди́ я́сного не́ба как снег на голову

Examples

“His death came as a bolt from the blue.”

CEFR level

C2

Mastery
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.

See all C2 English words →

See also

bolt out of the blue bolt rope bolt thrower bolt upright bolt-action bolt-hole

Know this word better than we do? Language is a living thing — help us keep it growing. Collaborate with Babel Free