Word
bombshell
Phoneticsbomb·shell, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbɑmˌʃɛɫ/
UK/bˈɒmʃɛl/
Españolbombazo
Countable noun Informal
Definition
n. a piece of news that is very surprising or shocking. It is usually something unexpected that changes a situation completely.
n. a sudden and highly impactful piece of news or a surprising revelation. Often used to describe information that disrupts a current state of affairs or public perception.
Examples
“The manager dropped a bombshell by quitting during the meeting.”
“The journalist's report was a political bombshell that led to several high-level resignations within the week.”
“The CEO's sudden announcement of a merger acted as a corporate bombshell, sending the company's stock price into a volatile swing as investors scrambled to assess the implications.”
Examples
simple
“The manager dropped a bombshell by quitting during the meeting.”
contextual
“The journalist's report was a political bombshell that led to several high-level resignations within the week.”
complex
“The CEO's sudden announcement of a merger acted as a corporate bombshell, sending the company's stock price into a volatile swing as investors scrambled to assess the implications.”
Usage
Commonly used with the verb 'to drop' ('to drop a bombshell').
Real-World Examples
“His loss was a political bombshell, and while he fought the result, his appeal was dismissed — and his hopes to lead the Ontario Liberals went with it.” “On Tuesday, Fedorov released on YouTube a bombshell nine-minute video .” Etymology
From bomb + shell.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. drop a bombshell
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/bombshell
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0