idiom · informal
have a lightbulb moment
UK/hæv ə ˈlaɪtˌbʌlb ˈməʊmənt/US/hæv ə ˈlaɪtˌbʌlb ˈmoʊmənt/have·a·LIGHT·bulb·MOment
a sudden moment of realisation or a sudden useful idea
Examples
“While I was struggling with the essay, I had a lightbulb moment and knew how to start.”
“During the group discussion she had a lightbulb moment that solved our problem.”
“It took a long time, but I finally had a lightbulb moment about the proof.”
Band 8 sentence
“Halfway through the proof I had a lightbulb moment and saw a much simpler method.”
Collocations
- have a lightbulb moment about/that
- experience a lightbulb moment
Word family
Common mistakes
I got a lightbulb moment last night.→I had a lightbulb moment last night.
He lightbulb momented when he saw the solution.→He had a lightbulb moment when he saw the solution.
Say it for a higher band
5realise→6suddenly realise→7+have a lightbulb moment
Synonyms
suddenly realise
Easily confused
get the idea
“I didn't quite get the idea at first, then I had a lightbulb moment and everything made sense.”
Related words
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In Study
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