Question of the Day #98

"George Takei Has Bombshell Announcement, And Washington Is Reeling"
From the headline of this article at the Daily Buzz.
注：この記事は、エイプリル・フールのものだったことが判明して少々残念ですが、問題を提供してくれたことに感謝。
Note: It turned out that this was an April Fool's Day gag, but at least I got a question out of it.

上記の文で、bombshellの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "bombshell" mean?

答えは、コメントに書いてください。
Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

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解答

意味： 英辞郎によると、


爆弾、砲弾、突発事件、爆弾発言、寝耳に水の出来事

本来、bombshellはbombの容器を意味するが、「爆弾」の同義語として使われる。しかし、比喩的に使う場合は、bombでは間違っていることに注意してください。

Answer

According to Dictionary.com:

something or someone having a sudden and sensational effect

Etymology/語源

Online Etymology Dictionaryによると、

「打ち砕くような影響」や「圧倒的な影響」を意味する比喩的な用法は、1860年ころから。

According to Online Etymology Dictionary:

The figurative sense of "shattering or devastating thing or event" attested from 1860.

Examples

• Then, at the end of the first trimester, John drops a bombshell: there is not one love-child, but two.
• What was most shocking about the bombshell reveal—that Newt asked for an open marriage—was the Callista part.
• Their lineup this week includes more forensic scientists, who have promised to deliver a “bombshell.”
• The book was a political bombshell.
• My sister dropped a bombshell by announcing she was leaving her job.