megaton bomb
1
4.9
- noun
- /ˈmɛɡəˌtʌn bɑm/
- Literature
- When the CEO admitted the fraud, it was a megaton bomb that shattered investor confidence worldwide.
Examples
-
The committee's report dropped a megaton bomb into the election campaign, forcing immediate resignations.
-
Her testimony proved a megaton bomb in court, changing the trial's course overnight.
-
Her announcement was a real megaton bomb in the industry.
-
The news of the merger dropped like a megaton bomb!
-
The committee's report dropped a megaton bomb into the election campaign, forcing immediate resignations.
-
When the CEO admitted the fraud, it was a megaton bomb that shattered investor confidence worldwide.
-
Her testimony proved a megaton bomb in court, changing the trial's course overnight.
Synonyms
2
7.9
A very large bomb that can destroy many buildings in one area
1
7.5
A very powerful bomb that can destroy a whole city, often using nuclear energy
1
9.9
A bomb with the power of several million tons of TNT
A very strong use of the F-word that shocks people
Antonyms
How Shocking
- Literature
1
4.9
14
6.1
- Literature
59
6.1
- Literature
∞
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is transparently built from 'megaton' (a very large measure of explosive power) + 'bomb' (an explosive device/event), so the meaning 'an extremely powerful or shocking event' follows directly as an intensification of the literal sense. This kind of metaphorical intensification (large measure + explosive) is predictable and cross-linguistically intuitive, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the figurative meaning.
Etymology
Megaton bomb is also used as a picture for very big news or events. People compare shocking news to the blast of a megaton bomb, so it means 'an event or announcement that has a huge, shocking effect'.