thun ‧ der ‧ bolt /ˈθʌndəbəʊlt $ -dərboʊlt/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
1 . a flash of ↑ lightning which hits a person or thing and kills or destroys them
2 . a sudden event or piece of news that shocks you:
The idea hit her like a thunderbolt.
thun ‧ der ‧ bolt /ˈθʌndəbəʊlt $ -dərboʊlt/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
1 . a flash of ↑ lightning which hits a person or thing and kills or destroys them
2 . a sudden event or piece of news that shocks you:
The idea hit her like a thunderbolt.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. Longman - Словарь современного английского языка. 2012