Sturm und Drang

1. 18th century German literary movement that emphasized dramatic individual expression of feelings and the human experience, in opposition to the prevailing popularity of empiricism and rationalism. Literal translation is: "storm and drive," but "storm and stress" is the more common translation. 2. An idiom in literary circles referring to a collective dramatic reaction, usually with opposing sides. "Hue and cry" is an approximately equivalent expression.