First recorded in 1855–60
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Watching parts of Spence's chat with Ferdinand, you can perhaps make easy assumptions about why a blood and thunder coach like Conte may not immediately take to Spence's more laidback demeanour off the pitch.
From BBC • May 19, 2025
Mainoo, meanwhile, rose above the blood and thunder with rare composure for one so young.
From BBC • Feb. 18, 2024
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
My way is to encourage the lad to devour tales of blood and thunder so that in a short time blood and thunder have no more interest for him.
From A Dominie in Doubt by Neill, Alexander Sutherland
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
