"That movie was a bomb."
- Thread starter cheshire
- Start date
In the UK it means that it was great, but if it was That movie bombed, then it would mean that it was a failure.
foxfirebrand
Senior Member
Southern AE greatly modified by a 1st-generation Scottish-American mother, and growing up abroad.
In AE, there's no ambiguity. If the movie bombed, it was a bomb. If it was a bomb, it stank on ice. No success whatsoever, unless you're into celluloid cheese.
"I heard Hiroshima Mon Amour was a bomb."
"That's supposed to be funny?"
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"I heard Hiroshima Mon Amour was a bomb."
"That's supposed to be funny?"
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AE once had more respect for munitions, or at least the casings. Decades ago, bombshell was a term used to describe a very attractive woman.
foxfirebrand
Senior Member
Southern AE greatly modified by a 1st-generation Scottish-American mother, and growing up abroad.
The shell is the part of a bomb (or unit of artillery ordinance) that is released from the casing. In olden days cannons spewed both shot (solid matter) and shell (hollow projectiles, packed with explosive).
"Shot and shell" is a set phrase for such ejecta-- casings came later, and are left behind, I guess you could call them rejecta. The phrase has the good grace to rhyme with "Hell," as anyone who's read Tennyson knows.
As for bombshells, they are different in shape from the casings that erstwhile encased them. Rather like dagmars-- which I'll bet you remember from bydone gaze. Named after a bombshell whose movies (had there been any) would more'n likely have been plain old bombs.
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It was awful.
But if the movie was "the bomb," it was great.
It may have had its origin in the black community, but around me it's a common expression understood and used by pretty much anyone.
Indeed. I didn't mean to imply otherwise.
foxfirebrand
Senior Member
Southern AE greatly modified by a 1st-generation Scottish-American mother, and growing up abroad.
If by very recent, you mean the late 1980s, then yes. I used it in high school, and if not, then at least in early college. I always thought it had its origin in "Valley Speak." **
** For those who don't understand, "Valley Speak" was a derivative of surfer speak that originated in the San Fernando Valley south of Los Angeles, like, in the 1980's.
Do the British actually say "That movie was a bomb"?
And, if they do, do they mean it in a good sense?
My experience of British English use of bomb in this way is pretty much confined to "xyz went down a bomb" which meant it was appreciated, or "xyz went like a bomb" meaning it went well (an interview, or exam, or some other event).
And, if they do, do they mean it in a good sense?
My experience of British English use of bomb in this way is pretty much confined to "xyz went down a bomb" which meant it was appreciated, or "xyz went like a bomb" meaning it went well (an interview, or exam, or some other event).
Could anybody rewrite the blue part easier for me?
Interesting. Do the British agree?