lightning strike

Storm's bright bolt

A lightning strike is the discharge of atmospheric electricity from cloud to ground, or the moment of that impact: The tree was split by a lightning strike.

The term extends to any sudden, targeted action—a military lightning strike hits fast and withdraws.

In labor contexts, a lightning strike is a walkout called without warning to employers.

electrical

thunderbolt

Electric sky discharge with boom

boltThreaded rod for nuts
flashBrief burst of light
thunderStorm's acoustic aftermath

storm · discharge · voltage · electrocution · shock · arc · plasma · channel · branching · fulgurite

labor

walkout

Protest by leaving

work stoppageOrganized cessation of labor

Categories

sudden eventsexplosion, earthquake, tornado, heart attack, sudden death
electric shocksdoorknob shock, carpet shock, jolt, zap, electrocution
electrical injurieselectric shock, electrocution, electrical burn, entry wound, exit wound
electrical problemspower failure, power loss, power outage, outage, blackout
power problemsvoltage spike, overvoltage, brownout, blackout, power outage
weather phenomenatornado, wind, hurricane, gust, blizzard

Opposites

speed and suddenness

lightning strikeslow burn

Gradual buildup of rage

slow erosion

precision and scope

lightning strikeblanket coverage

Protection without exceptions

saturation

force and intensity

lightning strikegentle touch

soft landing · light breeze

Family

strike, striking, lightning, struck, striker, strikes, strikingly, strikers, lightnings

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G