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Glite Dictionary
to storm the Bastille

to storm the Bastille

1 9.1
To attack or strongly challenge a powerful organization, for example a government
  • idiom
: asaltar la Bastilla
  • Instead, it's first they storm the Bastille, and then they're like, OK, what next?

Instead, it's first they storm the Bastille, and then they're like, OK, what next?

Examples

  • In their determination to create change, the citizens felt it was time to storm the Bastille and confront the ruling elite.

  • The protesters decided to storm the Bastille to demand justice from the corrupt government.

  • Many artists and activists are ready to storm the Bastille and challenge the oppressive policies in place.

Synonyms

to storm
vsto storm the Bastille
102 5.7

To attack and take a place suddenly with force

targets powerful institutions or authority to challenge their power rather than seize a location

Antonyms

to support
∞ 1.0

Give help to a person or idea

to comply
332 3.8

Do what a rule or person asks

How Forceful

to overthrow
127 5.1
to storm the Bastille
1 9.1
attack
∞ 1.4
protest
578 2.5
march
161 2.6
to complain
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

storm the Bastille infinitive
stormed the Bastille past
stormed the Bastille past participle
storming the Bastille present participle
storms the Bastille third person singular

Morphology

storm + the + Bastille

The verb 'storm' (to attack suddenly) combined with a known proper noun 'Bastille' yields a clear literal image of attacking a fortress, so part of the meaning is directly derivable from the constituents. However, the expression often functions metaphorically to mean attacking or challenging a powerful institution and relies on historical/cultural knowledge of the Bastille as a symbol of oppression, so the broader, figurative sense is not fully predictable for a B1 learner without prior exposure.

Etymology

The expression storm the Bastille comes from 1789 when a Paris crowd stormed the Bastille, a strong prison and a sign of the king's power. The image of people breaking into a powerful fortress is now used to mean 'to attack or challenge a powerful institution'.