Jewish lightning

English

Noun

Jewish lightning (usually uncountable, plural Jewish lightnings)

  1. (offensive) Supposed cause of a fire which is in fact deliberately lit by the property owner in order to benefit from insurance or similar such as destruction of documents.
    • 1996, John le Carré, interviewed at salon.com
      The insurance companies, many of which were Jewish, referred to "Jewish lightning" when unfortunate fires burned down warehouses in the East End.
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