Chicago lightning

English

Noun

Chicago lightning (uncountable)

1. (US, dated, slang) Bullets; gunfire.
   • 1946, Joseph Thompson Shaw, The hard-boiled omnibus: early stories from Black Mask, page 388:

     He said: "Thanks, friend; but you're wasting your time. You better warn Crocker. If that louse makes a play for me, he'll get hit with Chicago lightning!"

Related terms

• Chicago typewriter (“tommy gun”), Chicago overcoat (“coffin”)