Idioms

an act of God

This page is about the idiom an act of God

FORMAL

Meaning

Something like an earthquake or a tornado can be called an act of God.

For example

  • Will your insurance policy pay for the cost of replacing your house if it's destroyed by an act of God?

  • My daughter said that if disasters that kill lots of people are acts of God, why does He do it. I didn't know what to say.

Origin: The phrase 'act of God' originally appeared in religious texts, though nowadays it is mostly found in legal texts.

Quick Quiz

Which of these could be called an act of God?

a. a forest fire started by campers

b. a war caused by a religious dispute

c. a volcanic eruption
a) a forest fire started by campers b) a war caused by a religious dispute c) a volcanic eruption

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Common English Idioms

Contributor: Matt Errey