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storm ADJECTIVES/NOUN + storm a big storm • The tree had come down on the day of the big storm. a bad/terrible storm • This was the worst storm for 50 years. a severe/violent/fierce storm • He set out in a violent storm for Fort William. a great storm literary: • the great storm of 1997 a tropical storm • The tropical storm smashed through the Bahamas. a rain/snow storm • They got caught in a terrible snow storm. a dust storm (= one in which a lot of dust is blown around ) • Dust storms are relatively common in the Sahara. an electrical storm (= one with lightning ) • Power supplies have been affected by severe electrical storms in some parts of the country. a winter/summer storm • People fear there may be more flooding when the winter storms hit. a freak storm (= an unexpected and unusually violent one ) • The freak storm caused chaos. an approaching storm (= one that is coming closer ) • The horizon was dark with an approaching storm. verbs a storm blows up (= starts ) • That night, a storm blew up. a storm breaks (= suddenly starts, after clouds have been increasing ) • The storm broke at five o'clock. a storm is brewing (= is likely to start soon ) • He could feel that a storm was brewing. a storm rages (= is active and violent ) • By the time we reached the airfield, a tropical storm was raging. a storm hits/strikes (a place) • We should try to get home before the storm hits. a storm abates/passes • We sat and waited for the storm to pass. a storm blows itself out (= ends ) • The storm finally blew itself out. ride out a storm (= survive it without being damaged ) • The Greek fleet had ridden out the storm near Euboia. storm + NOUN storm clouds • We could see storm clouds in the distance. storm damage • A lot of buildings suffered storm damage. COMMON ERRORS >>> Do not say ' a strong storm ' or ' a hard storm '. Say a big storm , a bad storm , or a violent storm . storm 2 adjectives a political storm • The company became the centre of a political storm. verbs cause/create a storm • The Prime Minister caused a storm by criticizing military commanders. provoke/spark/raise a storm (= make it start ) • This decision provoked a storm of protest from civil rights organizations. a storm blows up (= starts ) • In 1895 a diplomatic storm blew up between Britain and America over Venezuela. a storm blows over (= ends ) • The President is just hoping that the storm will blow over quickly. ride out the storm (= survive the situation ) • Do you think the government will be able to ride out the storm? phrases a storm of protest • The killing caused a storm of protest. a storm of controversy • His book raised a storm of controversy. a storm of criticism • A storm of criticism forced the government to withdraw the proposal. be at the centre of a storm British English , be at the center of a storm American English (= be the person or thing that is causing strong protest, criticism etc ) • He has been at the centre of a storm surrounding donations to the party.
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noun period of bad weather ADJ. bad, big, devastating, disastrous, ferocious, fierce, great, heavy, raging, severe, terrible, tremendous, violent | approaching, gathering, impending the dark clouds of an approaching storm | freak | autumn, summer, winter | tropical | monsoon | dust, electric/electrical, lightning, magnetic, rain, sand, snow, thunder (also thunderstorm) VERB + STORM be in for I think we're in for a storm (= going to have one). STORM + VERB hit sth, strike sth It was the worst storm to hit London this century. | rage The storm raged all night. | be brewing, be coming A storm had been brewing all day. | blow up, break, burst The storm broke while we were on the mountain. | abate, blow itself out, blow over, pass, subside The storm blew over after a couple of hours. | batter sth, buffet sth, lash sth, ravage sth, sweep sth a boat battered by the storm Winter storms swept the coasts. | last The storm lasted for three days. STORM + NOUN cloud (often figurative) In 1939 the storm clouds gathered over Europe. | damage, losses Insurance companies face hefty payouts for storm damage. PREP. during/in a/the ~ PHRASES at the height of the storm, the calm/lull before the storm, the eye of the storm violent display of strong feeling ADJ. approaching, coming, gathering a gathering storm of discontent | political VERB + STORM arouse, cause, create, provoke, raise, spark | face | ride out, weather The government is determined to ride out the political storm sparked by its new immigration policy. STORM + VERB blow up, break, burst, erupt | blow over, pass PREP. amid a/the ~ The band toured Ireland amid a storm of controversy. | ~ between, ~ of His comments created a storm of protest in the media. | ~ over A storm blew up between Britain and America over Venezuela.