take by storm


take (someone, something, or some place) by storm

1. To conquer, seize, or lay siege to something, someone, or some place with a sudden and furious attack. The invaders took the castle by storm. The SWAT team smashed the door down and took the gunman by storm.2. To win or gain huge and widespread success or popularity very rapidly. There's a new fad among kids and teens that is taking the country by storm. The sleep therapy technique for children has taken parents around the world by storm.See also: by, storm, take

take someone or something by storm

 1. Fig. to conquer someone or something in a fury. The army took city after city by storm. They crashed in and took the general by storm. 2. Fig. to succeed overwhelmingly with someone, some place, or a group. The singing star took the audience in each town by storm. The star took the critics by storm.See also: by, storm, take

take by storm

Make a vivid impression on, quickly win popular acclaim or renown, as in The new rock group took the town by storm. This usage transfers the original military meaning of the phrase, "assault in a violent attack," to more peaceful endeavors. [Mid-1800s] See also: by, storm, take

take somebody/something by ˈstorm


1 take or seize a town, castle, building, etc. with a sudden and fierce attack: The police took the building by storm; two people were injured during the operation.
2 be extremely successful very quickly in a particular place or among particular people: Lord of the Rings took the whole world by storm; it was one of the most successful movies ever made.See also: by, somebody, something, storm, take

take by storm

To captivate completely: a new play that took New York City by storm.See also: by, storm, take

take by storm, to

To become quickly famous or popular. The term originally came from the military, where to storm meant to lay siege to a fortified position. By the late nineteenth century, however, the term had been extended to mean winning renown or popular acclaim. Thus Augustus Jessop wrote (The Coming of the Friars, 1889), “The Franciscans . . . were taking the world by storm.” See also: by, take