大发雷霆

大發雷霆

dàfā-léitíng

idiom #14,585

Meanings

老板听到消息后大发雷霆。

Lǎobǎn tīngdào xiāoxī hòu dàfāléitíng.

The boss flew into a rage after hearing the news.

爸爸看到成绩单大发雷霆。

Bàba kàndào chéngjìdān dàfāléitíng.

Dad hit the roof when he saw the report card.

memory

大 (greatly) + 发 (emit) + 雷霆 (thunder and lightning) — to unleash thunder and lightning, i.e., to erupt with fury.

history

雷霆 originally referred to the wrath of Heaven in classical Chinese. The idiom likens a person's anger to a thunderstorm.

大 dà

发 fā

雷 léi

霆 tíng