2. something or someone that stuns or amazes, especially suddenly and unexpectedly; as, the news of the president's affair was a political bombshell; a blonde bombshell. [PJC]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
bombshell — 1708, from BOMB (Cf. bomb) (n.) + SHELL (Cf. shell) (n.). The figurative sense of shattering or devastating thing or event attested from 1860. In reference to a pretty woman (especially a blonde) it is attested from 1942 ( Bombshell as title of a … Etymology dictionary
bombshell — I noun astonishment, bewilderment, blow, consternation, eye opener, inexpectation, jolt, nonexpectation, shock, startler, stupefaction, sudden attack, sudden burst, surprisal, surprise, surprise package, thunderbolt, thunderclap, unawaited event … Law dictionary
bombshell — ► NOUN 1) something that comes as a great surprise and shock. 2) informal a very attractive woman … English terms dictionary
bombshell — [bäm′shel΄] n. 1. BOMB (n. 1) 2. any shocking surprise 3. something which arouses great interest or excitement; sensation; specif., a woman with remarkable sex appeal, typically one who is blond and buxom … English World dictionary
Bombshell — The term bombshell is a forerunner to the sex symbol and originally used to describe popular female sex icons.exual connotationsBombshells are a special kind of sex symbol. Bombshells are popular icons recognized for their curves, sex appeal and… … Wikipedia
bombshell — UK [ˈbɒmˌʃel] / US [ˈbɑmˌʃel] noun [countable] Word forms bombshell : singular bombshell plural bombshells informal an event or piece of news that is unexpected and shocking The announcement of job losses came as an absolute bombshell. drop a… … English dictionary
bombshell — noun VERB + BOMBSHELL ▪ be, come as (BrE) ▪ His revelation was a bombshell. ▪ The news came as a bombshell. ▪ drop ▪ Then sh … Collocations dictionary
bombshell — [[t]bɒ̱mʃel[/t]] bombshells N COUNT A bombshell is a sudden piece of bad or unexpected news. His resignation after thirteen years is a political bombshell... The police told me. It was a bombshell. I had no idea. ● PHRASE: V and N inflect If… … English dictionary
bombshell — bomb|shell [ bam,ʃel ] noun count INFORMAL 1. ) an event or piece of news that is unexpected and shocking: The announcement of job losses came as a total bombshell. drop a bombshell (=give an unexpected and shocking piece of news): Anna suddenly… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
bombshell — bomb|shell [ˈbɔmʃel US ˈba:m ] n 1.) an unexpected and very shocking piece of news ▪ Then came the bombshell: the factory was to close down. ▪ Finally she dropped the bombshell . She was pregnant, she said. 2.) blonde bombshell humorous a… … Dictionary of contemporary English
