bomb run: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low frequency / Technical / HistoricalTechnical, Historical, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “bomb run” mean?
The flight path an aircraft takes to approach and release its bombs on a target.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The flight path an aircraft takes to approach and release its bombs on a target.
A single attack or mission involving the delivery of explosives; metaphorically, a focused, aggressive, and often rapid attempt to achieve a specific objective, such as in sports or business.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Spelling is identical. The term is more likely to be encountered in WWII or Cold War historical contexts in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations of a dangerous, direct attack mission.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects. Slightly higher frequency in American media due to larger scale of WWII/Bomber Command films and documentaries.
Grammar
How to Use “bomb run” in a Sentence
make/execute/complete a bomb run (on [target])during/after the bomb runabort/cancel the bomb runVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bomb run” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - The term is not used as a verb.
American English
- N/A - The term is not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A - The term is not used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A - The term is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- N/A - 'bomb-run' as an adjective is highly unusual and non-standard.
American English
- N/A - 'bomb-run' as an adjective is highly unusual and non-standard.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The sales team went on a bomb run in the final quarter, aggressively targeting all major clients.'
Academic
Used in historical or military studies: 'The paper analyses the success rates of B-17 bomb runs during the Schweinfurt raids.'
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation. A non-specialist might use it metaphorically: 'My revision schedule is like one long bomb run until the exams.'
Technical
Standard term in military aviation history and wargaming: 'The pilot held the aircraft steady on the bomb run despite heavy flak.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bomb run”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bomb run”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bomb run”
- Using 'bomb run' to mean any explosion. *'The terrorist's bomb run killed ten people.' (Incorrect - use 'bombing' or 'attack').
- Using it as a verb. *'They bomb ran the factory.' (Incorrect - use 'bombed' or 'made a bomb run on').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is typically written as two separate words, though hyphenation (bomb-run) is sometimes seen in compound adjective use (e.g., a bomb-run trajectory).
Yes, but only metaphorically. It describes a rapid, direct, and aggressive play towards the opponent's goal, e.g., 'The team launched a bomb run down the left wing.'
A 'bomb run' is the specific attacking manoeuvre of a single aircraft or formation during a mission. A 'bombing raid' is the entire event involving potentially many aircraft and many bomb runs on one or more targets.
No, it is a low-frequency, specialised term. Learners are most likely to encounter it in historical materials, films, or metaphorical use in specific contexts like sports journalism.
The flight path an aircraft takes to approach and release its bombs on a target.
Bomb run is usually technical, historical, journalistic in register.
Bomb run: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒm ˌrʌn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑːm ˌrʌn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on a bomb run (metaphorically: engaged in a determined, high-pressure effort)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a bomber plane RUNning straight at its target to drop its BOMBs.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACHIEVING A GOAL IS HITTING A TARGET; INTENSE EFFORT IS A MILITARY ATTACK.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'bomb run' be used LEAST appropriately?