A white squall refers to a sudden, powerful gust of wind that can occur over large bodies of water, often characterized by whitecaps, which are the foamy tops of waves. This phenomenon typically happens in clear weather and can lead to hazardous conditions for boats and ships.
The term "white squall" is not extremely common in everyday conversation but is frequently used in maritime contexts and literature. It is more likely to appear in written texts related to sailing, marine biology, or weather phenomena than in oral speech among general audiences.
Las velas fueron sorprendidas por un white squall que apareció de repente en el horizonte.
We learned about the dangers of a white squall during our sailing course.
Aprendimos sobre los peligros de un white squall durante nuestro curso de navegación.
The yacht capsized due to a fierce white squall that struck without warning.
While "white squall" itself may not be a common component of idiomatic expressions, the imagery associated with squalls and sudden changes in condition can be used metaphorically in various phrases. Here are idiomatic expressions that evoke similar ideas of suddenness or unpredictability:
Después de la repentina noticia de su despido, sintió que estaba atrapada en un squall.
Weather the storm - To endure a difficult situation.
Tuvieron que enfrentar la tormenta de la crisis financiera juntos.
Calm before the storm - A quiet period before a tumultuous event.
The term "white squall" combines "white," referring to the frothy whitecaps created by strong winds on the surface of the water, and "squall," which originates from the Middle English word "squale" meaning "to cry out" or "to shout," reflecting the sudden and violent nature of these wind bursts.