blood and thunder

American

noun

sensationalism, violence, or exaggerated melodrama.

a movie full of blood and thunder.

blood-and-thunder British

adjective

denoting or relating to a melodramatic adventure story

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of blood and thunder

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Morgan says his team will bring "heart, soul, blood and thunder".

From BBC • Dec. 5, 2024

There isn't the blood and thunder of South Africa, the champagne and swagger of France or the intricacies of Ireland.

From BBC • Oct. 20, 2023

On the other side of the English Channel, the reaction against the French Revolution packed a lot more blood and thunder.

From Salon • Jul. 1, 2023

Wayne Rooney tried to stabilise his team from a central midfield role, seeking to chisel out any kind of foothold with some possession, but it was West Ham who brought the blood and thunder.

From The Guardian • May 10, 2016

Far inferior to "Tamburlaine" as an artistic achievement, "The Spanish Tragedy" can no more than that play be pushed aside as a mere blood and thunder tirade.

From Tragedy by Thorndike, Ashley H.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023