the bomb

plural the bombs · alternative da bomb

1. capitalizedinformaloftenuncountableusuallyThe atomic bomb; the capability to launch a nuclear attack.

   Pakistan and India both have the Bomb now.

   3 more examples

   The Cabinet, when faced with this proffered omnipotence, had recoiled in fear. True it was that their acute distaste for the bomb[…] did credit to their humanity, to their state of civilization.

   1932, Harold Nicolson, “Public Faces”, in The Spectator, volume 149, page 558

   In my view, the tensions which have produced the “World with the Bomb” can be divided into roughly four classes.

   1962, Kwame Nkruma, The World Without the Bomb: Selections from the Papers of “the Accra Assembly”, page 3

   First we got the bomb and that was good, 'Cause we love peace and motherhood. Then Russia got the bomb, but that's O.K., 'Cause the balance of power's maintained that way!

   1965, Tom Lehrer, “Who's Next” (track 5, side 2), in That Was The Year That Was

2. figurativelyslanguncountableusuallyA success; something excellent.

   That party was the bomb!

   2 more examples

   Their new record is the bomb.

   She’s happy, she’s found a little big-head boy who thinks she’s the bomb.

   1997, Sheneska Jackson, Li'l Mama's Rules, page 152

   Synonyms: the shit

1. alternativeAlternative form of the bomb (as in a nuclear bomb)