bolt
B2Neutral to informal (for the 'run' sense), technical (for the hardware sense)
Definition
Meaning
A sudden, fast movement to escape or move away; a metal bar for fastening objects; a flash of lightning.
A roll of fabric; to eat food very quickly; to fix with a bolt; to abandon a party or alliance.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word has a core concept of suddenness and security. It bridges concrete objects (metal fastener) and rapid, often involuntary, action.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slight. 'Bolt upright' is common in both. In the US, 'bolt' as a verb for running is more common. 'Bolt' for fabric is a shared technical term.
Connotations
UK: Slightly more formal for the fastener. US: Strong connotation of sudden flight in politics ('bolt the party').
Frequency
The verb sense 'to run away suddenly' is slightly more frequent in American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SUBJ + bolt + (DIRECTION) (e.g., The horse bolted.)SUBJ + bolt + OBJ (e.g., Bolt the door.)SUBJ + bolt + OBJ + down (e.g., He bolted down his lunch.)SUBJ + bolt + OBJ + together (e.g., Bolt the panels together.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a bolt from the blue”
- “bolt upright”
- “make a bolt for it”
- “the nuts and bolts”
- “shoot one's bolt”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in 'nuts and bolts' (basic practical details).
Academic
Used in physics/engineering (fasteners, lightning); history ('bolting' from a political party).
Everyday
Very common for doors, running, and eating quickly.
Technical
Precise term in engineering (threaded bolt), textiles (fabric roll), and meteorology (lightning).
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- We need a new bolt for the shed door.
- A sudden bolt of lightning lit up the sky.
- He bought a bolt of linen for the curtains.
American English
- Check if the bolt is tight on the wheel.
- The news hit her like a bolt from the blue.
- The fabric comes in a 50-yard bolt.
verb
British English
- He bolted the garden gate securely.
- The startled deer bolted into the woods.
- She bolted down her tea before the meeting.
American English
- He bolted the door shut.
- The senator bolted the party after the scandal.
- Don't just bolt your food; savor it.
adverb
British English
- He sat bolt upright when he heard the noise.
American English
- She woke up bolt upright in the middle of the night.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The door has a strong bolt.
- I saw a bolt of lightning.
- Please bolt the door before you go to bed.
- The rabbit bolted when it saw us.
- He bolted down his breakfast and rushed out.
- The decision was a complete bolt from the blue.
- Disillusioned, several delegates threatened to bolt from the coalition.
- Let's move from theory to the nuts and bolts of implementation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BOLT of lightning making a horse BOLT (run) to its BOLT-hole, where the door is secured with a metal BOLT.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPEED/ESCAPE IS A SUDDEN RELEASE (like a bolt shooting from a crossbow); SECURITY IS BEING FASTENED.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'болт' (screw) in all contexts; a 'bolt' is often larger, like 'болт с гайкой'.
- Confusing 'bolt' (verb: run) with 'бежать' (general run). 'Bolt' implies panic/suddenness.
- 'Bolt upright' does not mean 'привинтить прямо', but 'сидеть/встать очень прямо и резко'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'bolt' instead of 'screw' for smaller fasteners.
- Saying 'He bolted *to* the door' instead of 'He made a bolt for the door' or 'He bolted *through* the door'.
- Confusing 'thunderbolt' with just 'thunder'.
Practice
Quiz
In the idiom 'a bolt from the blue', what does 'bolt' refer to?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can be used for people too, often implying a sudden, panicked, or very rapid movement (e.g., 'The children bolted when they saw the teacher').
A bolt is typically used with a nut to fasten objects together, while a screw is threaded into a material itself. Bolts are generally larger and non-tapered.
Yes. Transitive: 'Bolt the door' (you bolt something). Intransitive: 'The horse bolted' (the subject itself bolts).
It's an idiom meaning to use up all one's energy or resources in a single, often premature, effort, leaving nothing in reserve.