raio
1. A sudden, very bright flash of light produced by electricity passing between clouds, or between a cloud and the ground during a thunderstorm
The lightning struck the tree during the storm.
O raio atingiu a árvore durante a tempestade.
2. Something that happens with great speed; extreme quickness or suddenness
The boxer moved with lightning speed.
O boxeador se moveu com velocidade de raio.
3. A sudden and unexpected event or occurrence
Her success came like lightning out of the blue.
Seu sucesso veio como um raio do nada.
In Brazil, 'raio' is the standard meteorological and colloquial term. Lightning is deeply embedded in Brazilian culture through various references in music, folklore, and weather warnings during the rainy season. In the USA, lightning safety is a significant public health concern, especially in states like Florida and during summer months. Both cultures use 'lightning' metaphorically to describe extreme speed or sudden, shocking events.
Related Idioms & Phrases
lightning speed (velocidade de raio)
lightning strike (golpe de raio)
quick as lightning (rápido como um raio)
a bolt from the blue (um raio do nada)
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