Storm in a Teacup and Take by Storm
A storm is violent weather. The word supplies English with images of both trivial fuss and sudden conquest.
A storm is a violent disturbance of the atmosphere, with strong wind and usually rain or snow. Two phrases pull it in opposite directions: *a storm in a teacup* means a great fuss about nothing, and *to take by storm* means to capture suddenly and completely — that one is military, from assaulting a fortress in one rush rather than besieging it. On the Beaufort scale a storm is force 10, above a gale and below a hurricane.
- Violent weather. *A winter storm.*
- To attack suddenly. *Take by storm.*
- A storm in a teacup — a fuss. *A storm in a teacup.*
- Beaufort force 10. *Storm force.*
- Old English — *storm*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | storm | A storm. |
| Plural | storms | Storms. |
| Verb | storm | Storm the gate. |
| Adjective | stormy | Stormy. |
| Compound | thunderstorm | A thunderstorm. |
- The storm brought down trees.Weather.
- The show took London by storm.Success.
- It was a storm in a teacup.Fuss.
The top of the Beaufort scale
- Force 8 — gale, twigs break off trees
- Force 9 — strong gale, slight structural damage
- Force 10 — storm, trees uprooted
- Force 11 — violent storm, widespread damage
- Force 12 — hurricane, devastation
Old English *storm*, of Germanic origin, related to Dutch *storm* and German *Sturm*.
Where does take by storm come from?
From siege warfare: to storm a fortress meant capturing it in a single rush rather than starving it out.
What is storm force on the Beaufort scale?
Force 10, with winds of about 89 to 102 kilometres per hour, above a strong gale and below hurricane force.