What are bolts from the blue?

A bolt from the blue is a metaphorical phrase referring to a lightning bolt suddenly coming from a clear sky, something you wouldn't expect. The word bolt refers to a lightning bolt (a flash of lightning), and the blue refers to a clear sky (a stormy sky might be grey or black).

What does a bolt from the blue means?

Definition of bolt from the blue

: a complete surprise : something totally unexpected.

Where does the saying bolt from the blue come from?

Wayne Howard of Hanahan, S.C., writes:

An ordinary bow shoots an arrow, but a crossbow shoots a projectile called a bolt. The crossbow had a much longer range than regular bows, and the person who was targeted sometimes couldn't see the shooter, hence, “a bolt from the blue” when the projectile landed.

How do you use a bolt from the blue?

1. The news of his death was a bolt from the blue.
2. Was this money a bolt from the blue or did you know you were going to get it?
3. Her dismissal came as a bolt from the blue.
4. The news of his marriage was a bolt from the blue.
5. His sudden death came as a bolt from the blue.
6. The Mishcon job came like a bolt from the blue.

What did the bolt stand for?

BOLT. Build-Own-Lease-Transfer (public-private development)

Does bolting mean fast?

To bolt is to run as quickly as you can. Racehorses are often described as bolting out of the gate.

What does bolted mean in gardening?

To achieve this goal, lettuces—and many other greens—sprout tall stalks that produce small flowers that yield smaller seeds (that grow more plants, of course). This is all part of a process called “bolting,” also known as “going to seed.” And for annuals like lettuce, it marks the end of a plant's life cycle.

How do you use out of the blue?

And my winning ride came out of the blue; you can often win when you are least expecting to. One night, out of the blue, he knocked on my door. One day, out of the blue, he called me. One day, out of the blue, his wife told him that she was no longer in love with him.

What is the meaning of once in the blue moon?

Once in a blue moon: This poetic phrase refers to something extremely rare in occurrence. A blue moon is the term commonly used for a second full moon that occasionally appears in a single month of our solar-based calendars.

How do you use blue blood in a sentence?

a member of the aristocracy.

1. Blue blood flowed in the vein.
2. There are blue devils and blue ribbons and blue bloods.
3. Is that why the angel has blue blood?
4. Many blue blood children attend this private school.
5. He boasted a lineage of pure blue blood.
6. A splash of bright blue blood spattered the pipes.

What does a fish out of water mean?

A person away from his or her usual environment or activities. For example, Using a computer for the first time, Carl felt like a fish out of water, or On a hiking trail, Nell was a fish out of water. This expression alludes to the fact that fish cannot survive for long on dry land. [ Late 1300s]

What does a bear with a sore head mean?

We use this expression to say that someone is in a bad mood.

What is the meaning of he is a rough diamond?

1. : a person who has talent or other good qualities but who is not polite, educated, socially skilled, etc. — called also (British) rough diamond. 2. : something that is in poor condition but that is likely to become valuable with appropriate care or attention.

What does it mean to take a French leave?

Definition of French leave

a departure without ceremony, permission, or notice: Taking French leave, he evaded his creditors.

What is the meaning of the idiom to cry wolf?

phrase. If someone cries wolf, they say that there is a problem when there is not, with the result that people do not believe them when there really is a problem.

What does the idiom in the blue mean?

C1. If something happens out of the blue, it is completely unexpected: One day, out of the blue, she announced that she was leaving.

What does the saying When Pigs Fly mean?

Definition of when pigs fly

—used to say that one thinks that something will never happen The train station will be renovated when pigs fly.

What is the meaning for the idiom cat nap?

: a very short light nap.

What does the idiom butterflies in my stomach mean?

"To get/have butterflies in your stomach" is an idiomatic expression that means you are anxious and have a nervous feeling in your stomach.

Why do they say out of the blue?

The phrase out of the blue means without warning, completely unexpectedly. It is from a bolt out of, also from, the blue, denoting a sudden and unexpected event, a complete surprise, with reference to the unlikelihood of a thunderbolt coming from a clear blue sky.

Is it out the blue or blew?

A color that is halfway between green and violet is blue and blew means to let out your breath in a forced manner. The past tense of the word 'blow' is blew, whereas blue is a word that has no tense.

What does under the blue mean?

n. 2 an over-under firearm.

How do I stop my plants from bolting?

6 Ways to Prevent Your Plants From Bolting

1. Plant bolt-resistant seeds. ...
2. Cool your soil with a layer of mulch. ...
3. Plant your crops during a cooler season. ...
4. Provide shade for your cold-weather crops. ...
5. Make sure you're using an appropriate fertilizer. ...
6. Direct sow your seeds.

What does bolting arugula look like?

If it's hot outside, watch your plant for the telltale sign that it's about to bolt: the emergence of small, weedy-looking, lobe-less leaves at the top of the plant. These leaves are shortly followed by flowers, so act quickly if you don't want your crop to bolt!

What does bolting cauliflower look like?

Signs that your plant might be bolting are when it gets taller than its maturity height and flower heads appear. In many cases, these changes make the vegetable flavor bitter, stems or roots woody, and, in general, unpalatable.