bombshellbomb‧shell /ˈbɒmʃel $ ˈbɑːm-/ noun [countable] 
Then came the bombshell: the factory was to close down. Finally, she dropped the bombshell. She was pregnant, she said.2blonde bombshell humorous a sexually attractive woman with light-coloured hair
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- For the board of directors, the news of the crash came as a bombshell.
- Then Vanessa dropped the bombshell that she was leaving - and leaving that night.
- A bombshell, the announcement drew cries of anguish from critics and fans.
- A bit of a bombshell, Vi distracts Betty's hard-won suitor Hugh, touching off a set of sibling sparring.
- But while they were there Farash dropped a bombshell.
- For the Community Board this was a bombshell.
- Her three-page typed reply, when it was finally received, dropped like a bombshell.
- Meanwhile, rehearsals for Blithe Spirit were proceeding to their second week with me sitting on this bombshell.
- The word had fallen like a bombshell in the pure and tranquil atmosphere of the Archer dining-room.
- They were successful in the first aim by concentrating on Mr Smith's shadow budget and re-exploding the tax bombshell.
Longman Language Activatorsomething that shocks you
something very bad or unpleasant that happens to you and that you did not expect: · "The bill came to almost £500." "That must have been a shock."get a shock: · Gary got a shock when his ex-girlfriend turned up on his doorstep.give somebody a shock: · It gave me a shock to realize that I had almost died.with a shock: · He realised with a faint shock that it was Lulu, much older but still beautiful.be in for a shock (=used to say someone will be shocked when they discover something): · If the FBI thought they could outwit him, they were in for a shock.a rude shock British (=a big and very unpleasant shock): · Going on holiday with Ian had been a rude shock -- he'd been argumentative, mean and not at all what she'd expected.
an unpleasant event or piece of news that makes you shocked, upset, and disappointed: · Not being allowed to return to her own country was a blow from which she never really recovered.blow to: · The Colorado river was closed, a bitter blow to rafters and kayakers who may have to wait seven years for a river use permit. deal somebody a blow: · His championship hopes were dealt a savage blow last night when he received a hamstring injury.
a piece of news which is extremely shocking and bad: drop a bombshell (=tell people something very shocking or surprising): · Then Vanessa dropped the bombshell that she was leaving - and leaving that night.come as a bombshell: · For the board of directors, the news of the crash came as a bombshell.
a sudden shock that happens when you find out the unpleasant truth about a situation: · Moving to the city was a rude awakening for an innocent country girl like Eli.be in for a rude awakening (=used to say that someone will be unpleasantly shocked when they discover something): · I was expecting the oral exam to be easy, but I was in for a rude awakening.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Finally, she dropped the bombshell. She was pregnant, she said.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
Finally, she dropped the bombshell. She was pregnant, she said.· It was because, apart from sniffles, she was a blonde bombshell with a large bosom.· Lawford even took photographs of the President of the United States and the blonde bombshell in bed together.
VERB· Then, one day in May, Kathleen dropped a bombshell.· However, it was while in the midst of dealing with her father's problems that her husband had dropped his bombshell.· Jackie drops the bombshell as she and Jimmy happily tell each other how much they love each other after 27 years together.· There is a funny, touching reconciliation scene, and then Michael drops his bombshell.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1an unexpected and very shocking piece of news: - It was because, apart from sniffles, she was a blonde bombshell with a large bosom.
- Lawford even took photographs of the President of the United States and the blonde bombshell in bed together.
- Then, one day in May, Kathleen dropped a bombshell.
Then came the bombshell: the factory was to close down. Finally, she dropped the bombshell. She was pregnant, she said.2blonde bombshell humorous a sexually attractive woman with light-coloured hair