lightning rod
5
3.9
- noun
- /ˈlaɪtnɪŋ rɑd/
- US
:
pararrayos
- - Oh, we're buying a lightning rod, mom.
- lightning rod on the roof
And he said, well, we signed the, the lightning rod on top.
- And he said, well, we signed the, the lightning rod on top.
Examples
-
"Just make sure you've got your lightning rod handy."
Fiction book (1999) -
You do have a lightning rod, of course.
Blog text (12) -
And our guys just making things good here because we're going to be putting the actual lightning rod through there.
-
We needed a new lightning rod.
-
All right, so now any lightning that comes in should go straight down the lightning rod, and we should all be safe.
-
Old Nehamkin was on the roof, putting up a lightning rod, when a storm broke out.
-
Behind the sign stood a white frame house with cupolas, a widow's walk, weather vanes, and lightning rods.
Fiction book (1993) -
Their square, two-story house was devoid of ornamentation except for lightning rods and a cast iron weather vane.
Fiction book (1993) -
The architect installed a new lightning rod on the roof to protect the building from storm damage.
-
During the thunderstorm, the lightning rod safely directed the electrical discharge into the ground.
Synonyms
A metal rod or wire on top of a building that carries lightning into the ground to prevent damage
How Protective
- Specialized
- US
5
3.9
- Specialized
4
4.0
- Specialized
2
3.2
- Specialized
5
4.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is transparently built from 'lightning' (a striking, damaging force) and 'rod' (an object that attracts lightning), so the literal image of something that draws down striking attention is clear. However, mapping that physical image to the abstract idea of a person who attracts criticism or controversy requires a metaphorical inference that many B1 learners would not make automatically, so the phrase is only partly predictable from its parts.
Etymology
The noun lightning rod is a metal rod placed on the top of a building that attracts lightning and sends the electric charge safely into the ground, so the building is 'protected' from fire or damage.