bolt (redirected from Bolt, Robert (Oxton))

a bolt from the blue

something that you do not expect to happen and that surprises you very much. The news that they had got married was a bolt from the blue. He seemed to be very happy in his job, so his resignation came as a bolt out of the blue.

See also: blue, from

bolt upright

in a position where you are sitting up with your back very straight. He woke to see her sitting bolt upright beside him and wondered what was the matter.

closing/shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted

trying to stop something bad happening when it has already happened and the situation cannot be changed. Improving security after a major theft would seem to be a bit like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.

See also: after, door, has, horse, shut

the nuts and bolts

the basic, practical details of a job or other activity. Law school teaches wonderful theory but it doesn't teach the nuts and bolts of actually practising law. (often + of)

See also: nuts

shoot your bolt

to use all your energy trying to do something, so that you do not have enough energy left to finish it. By the end of the third lap it was obvious that she had shot her bolt, and the Canadian runner took the lead. (never in continuous tenses)

See also: shoot

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bolt upright

vertical and straight. She suddenly awoke from her nightmare and sat bolt upright in bed.

Usage notes: usually used with sit and usually used after the verb, as in the example

like a bolt from the blue

suddenly and unexpectedly. Quinn's announcement that he is quitting came like a bolt from the blue.

Etymology: based on the idea of a bolt (= flash) of lightning that comes suddenly from the sky

See also: blue, from, like