stroke of brilliance
1
6.0
- noun
:
destello de brillantez
- Her latest artwork was a stroke of brilliance that left everyone in awe.
Examples
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It's just a stroke of brilliance.
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I've bet so much in the past; has this been a stroke of brilliance?
Fiction book (1992) -
And then Buckley, in a stroke of brilliance, gives a press conference and declares victory.
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A stroke of brilliance
Fiction book (2000) -
The professor's unique approach to the problem was a real stroke of brilliance.
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Deciding to travel during the off-season was a stroke of brilliance as the sights were less crowded.
Synonyms
52
6.6
A sudden clear idea that gives you new understanding
42
4.1
Great skill in thinking that makes new or useful ideas
26
3.6
A sudden idea that helps you solve a problem
8
4.8
A sudden clever idea or action that works very well
2
5.1
A sudden clever idea that solves a problem
Antonyms
How Brilliant
Surface Forms
Morphology
stroke + of + brilliance
The phrase combines 'stroke' (a sudden event or lucky turn) with 'brilliance' (exceptional intelligence), so its meaning — a sudden instance of cleverness — is directly derivable from its parts. The 'stroke of X' pattern (as in 'stroke of luck' or 'stroke of genius') is a common, productive construction and is likely recognizable to a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.
Etymology
The phrase stroke of brilliance may come from the image of a single quick stroke of bright brilliance, like a flash of light or a bright paint mark, that suddenly makes something stand out. That's why it now means a sudden, clever 'idea' or action.