134 bolt_英语论文

a bolt from the blue

a bolt out of the blue

If you say that an event or piece of news was like a bolt from the blue or a bolt out of the blue, you mean that it surprised you because it was completely unexpected. You use this expression mainly when talking about unpleasant things.

A Foreign Office spokesman had described the coup as `a bolt from the blue'.

Mrs who refuses to give her first says the arrest had come `like a bolt out of the blue'.

shoot your bolt    

If you say that someone has shot their bolt, you mean that they have done everything they can to achieve something but have failed, and now can do nothing else to achieve their aims. This expression is used in British English.

The have really shot their bolt; they'll never ever get any more votes than this.

Adeline shot her last bolt now. She opened her eyes very wide, and for an instant it was as if Amy was looking into her own imploring face. `Please, Amy, don't go.'