storm
noun /stɔːm/
/stɔːrm/
Idioms - very bad weather with strong winds and rain, and often thunder and lightning
- fierce/heavy/severe/violent storms
- Winter storms swept the coasts.
- Her home was hit by two tropical storms.
- A few minutes later the storm broke (= began).
- I think we're in for a storm (= going to have one).
- Off on the horizon, dark grey storm clouds gathered.
- Insurance companies face hefty payouts for storm damage.
Vocabulary Building Rain and stormsRain and stormsRain- Drizzle is fine light rain.
- A shower is a short period of rain.
- A downpour or a cloudburst is a heavy fall of rain that often starts suddenly.
- When it is raining very hard you can say that it is pouring. In informal British English you can also say that it is bucketing down or chucking it down. You can also say: The heavens opened.
- A cyclone and a typhoon are types of violent tropical storms with very strong winds.
- A hurricane has very strong winds and is usually at sea.
- A monsoon is a period of very heavy rain in particular countries, or the wind that brings this rain.
- A squall is a sudden strong, violent wind, usually in a rainstorm or snowstorm.
- A tornado (or informal twister) has very strong winds which move in a circle, often with a long narrow cloud.
- A whirlwind moves very fast in circles and causes a lot of damage.
- A blizzard is a snowstorm with very strong winds.
- Tempest is used mainly in literary language to describe a violent storm.
Collocations The weatherThe weatherGood weather- be bathed in/bask in/be blessed with/enjoy bright/brilliant/glorious sunshine
- the sun shines/warms something/beats down (on something)
- the sunshine breaks/streams through something
- fluffy/wispy clouds drift across the sky
- a gentle/light/stiff/cool/warm/sea breeze blows in/comes in off the sea
- the snow crunches beneath/under somebody’s feet/boots
- thick/dark/storm clouds form/gather/roll in/cover the sky/block out the sun
- the sky darkens/turns black
- a fine mist hangs in the air
- a dense/heavy/thick fog rolls in
- the rain falls/comes down (in buckets/sheets)/pours down
- snow falls/comes down/covers something
- the wind blows/whistles/howls/picks up/whips through something/sweeps across something
- strong/gale-force winds blow/gust (up to 80 mph)
- a storm is approaching/is moving inland/hits/strikes/rages
- thunder rolls/rumbles/sounds
- (forked/sheet) lightning strikes/hits/flashes
- a (blinding/snow) blizzard hits/strikes/blows/rages
- a tornado touches down/hits/strikes/destroys something/rips through something
- forecast/expect/predict rain/snow/a category-four hurricane
- (North American English) pour (down)/ (British English) pour (down) with rain
- get caught in/seek shelter from/escape the rain
- be covered/shrouded in mist/a blanket of fog
- be in for/brave/shelter from a/the storm
- hear rolling/distant thunder
- be battered/buffeted by strong winds
- (British English) be blowing a gale
- battle against/brave the elements
- the sun breaks through the clouds
- the sky clears/brightens (up)/lightens (up)
- the clouds part/clear
- the rain stops/lets up/holds off
- the wind dies down
- the storm passes
- the mist/fog lifts/clears
Extra ExamplesTopics Weathera2, The environmenta2- A storm blew in off the ocean.
- A storm had been brewing all day.
- I took shelter from the storm in the clubhouse.
- It was the worst storm to hit London this century.
- The east coast of Florida bore the brunt of the storm.
- The storm blew over after a couple of hours.
- The storm broke while we were on the mountain.
- The storm lasted for three days.
- The storm raged all night.
- We tried to find a safe place to wait out the storm.
- We'll be tracking the storm as it makes its way across the Gulf.
- Where were you when the storm struck?
- a boat battered by the storm
- a tropical storm warning
- the dark clouds of an approaching storm
- Does the insurance policy provide for storm damage?
- Rail services were suspended as fierce storms lashed the country.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bad
- big
- devastating
- …
- be in for
- brave
- shelter from
- …
- hit (something)
- strike (something)
- rage
- …
- cloud
- surge
- water
- …
- during a/the storm
- in a/the storm
- at the height of the storm
- bear the brunt of the storm
- take the brunt of the storm
- …
- (in compounds) very bad weather of the type mentioned
- She had to brave an ice storm to get to the interview.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bad
- big
- devastating
- …
- be in for
- brave
- shelter from
- …
- hit (something)
- strike (something)
- rage
- …
- cloud
- surge
- water
- …
- during a/the storm
- in a/the storm
- at the height of the storm
- bear the brunt of the storm
- take the brunt of the storm
- …
- storm (of something) a situation in which a lot of people suddenly express very strong feelings about something
- His comments created a storm of protest in the media.
- A political storm is brewing over the prime minister's comments.
- The footballer has been at the centre of a media storm after remarks he made on the radio caused controversy.
Extra Examples- A storm blew up between Britain and America over Venezuela.
- The political storm had blown over at last.
- The band toured Ireland amid a storm of controversy.
- The government is determined to ride out the political storm caused by its new immigration policy.
- a gathering storm of discontent
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- approaching
- coming
- gathering
- …
- arouse
- cause
- create
- …
- blow up
- break
- erupt
- …
- amid a/the storm
- storm between
- storm of
- …
- storm of something a sudden loud noise that is caused by emotion or excitement synonym roar
- a storm of applause
Word OriginOld English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch storm and German Sturm, probably also to the verb stir. The verb dates from late Middle English.
Idioms
any port in a storm
- (saying) if you are in great trouble, you take any help that is offered
the calm before the storm
- a calm time immediately before an expected period of violent activity or argument
cook, dance, etc. up a storm
- (informal) to do something with great energy and enthusiasm
- Leonie was in the kitchen, cooking up a storm for her friends.
a storm in a teacup (British English)
(North American English a tempest in a teapot)
- a lot of anger or worry about something that is not important
take something/somebody by storm
- to be extremely successful very quickly in a particular place or among particular people
- The play took London by storm.
- to attack a place suddenly and capture it