fire and brimstone
The phrase "fire and brimstone" is often associated with severe divine punishment and is frequently used in religious contexts to describe God's wrath.
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Definition
C1Biblical
(religious)Severe divine punishment often involving fire, as depicted in the Bible.
Example
- The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is a classic example of fire and brimstone.
B2Idiomatic
(figurative)A metaphor for extreme punishment or retribution, especially in hell.
Example
- The preacher's sermon was filled with fire and brimstone, warning the congregation of the consequences of sin.
B2Rhetorical
(descriptive)A style of speaking or preaching that emphasizes severe consequences and divine wrath to invoke fear and encourage repentance.
Example
- His fire-and-brimstone speech left the audience in a state of fear and reflection.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "fire and brimstone":
walking firetrial by firehell or high waterfalse fireburn in hellon firetake firehell on earth