a flash, or several flashes, of very bright light in the sky caused by electricity 闪电 a flash of lightning 一道闪电 a violent storm with thunder and lightning 夹着雷鸣电闪的暴风雨 He was struck by lightning and killed. 他被闪电击中而死。 Lightning strikes caused scores of fires across the state. 雷击给整个州造成了多起火灾。
Collocations The weathersee also forked lightning, heat lightning, sheet lightningThe weather 天气 Good weather 好天气 - be bathed in/bask in/be blessed with/enjoy bright/brilliant/glorious sunshine
沐浴着／享受着明媚的／灿烂的阳光 - 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
Bad weather 坏天气 - 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
预报有雨／雪／四级飓风 - (North American English) pour (down)/ (British English) pour (down) with rain
下瓢泼大雨 - get caught in/seek shelter from/escape the rain
遇上下雨；寻找避雨处；躲雨 - be covered/shrouded in mist/a blanket of fog
笼罩在雾霭之中／厚厚的一层雾中 - be in for/brave/shelter from a/the storm
即将遇到／勇敢面对／躲避暴风雨 - hear rolling/distant thunder
听到隆隆的／远处的雷声 - be battered/buffeted by strong winds
遭受强风肆虐；被强风吹得左右摇摆 - (British English) be blowing a gale
在刮大风 - battle against/brave the elements
与恶劣天气搏斗；冒着风雨
The weather improves 天气好转 - 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 Weatherb1Forked lightning flickered across the sky. 叉状闪电划过天空。 Lightning flashed outside. 外面闪电闪烁。 Lightning hit the tree. 闪电击中了那棵树。 Lightning lit up the night sky. 闪电照亮了夜空。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- ball
- forked
- sheet
- …
- bolt
- flash
- streak
- …
- flash
- illuminate something
- light something
- …
- bolt
- flash
- storm
- …
- thunder and lightning
Word OriginMiddle English: special use of lightening (verbal noun from lighten in the sense ‘to become lighter’ or ‘brighter’).
Idioms
lightning never strikes (in the same place) twice
- (saying)
an unusual or unpleasant event is not likely to happen in the same place or to the same people twice 倒霉的事不可能在同一场所（或同一人身上）重复发生；一事不过二
like (greased) lightning
very fast 闪电般；飞快地；一溜烟地 He leapt out of the car like lightning. 他像闪电一样从车里跳了出来。 He jumped out of the car like greased lightning. 他风驰电掣般地跳出了车。