Weather Idioms
English speakers love talking about weather - and they’ve created many idioms around it!
Rain Idioms
It’s raining cats and dogs
Meaning: It’s raining very heavily
- Don’t go out now - it’s raining cats and dogs!
- We got stuck inside because it was raining cats and dogs.
- Take an umbrella - it’s raining cats and dogs out there.
Save for a rainy day
Meaning: To save money for future needs
- I always put some money aside to save for a rainy day.
- These savings are for a rainy day.
- It’s wise to have funds saved for a rainy day.
Take a rain check
Meaning: To postpone accepting an offer until later
- I can’t come to dinner tonight - can I take a rain check?
- Sorry, I’ll have to take a rain check on that coffee.
- Rain check on the movie? I’m exhausted.
Origin: This comes from baseball, where spectators received tickets (“rain checks”) to return on another day if a game was rained out.
When it rains, it pours
Meaning: Problems (or good fortune) tend to come all at once
- First the car broke, then the washing machine - when it rains, it pours!
- I got two job offers in one week - when it rains, it pours!
Right as rain
Meaning: Perfectly fine, in good health
- After some rest, she was right as rain.
- Don’t worry, I’ll be right as rain by tomorrow.
- The car is right as rain after the repair.
Sun and Cloud Idioms
Every cloud has a silver lining
Meaning: Every bad situation has some positive aspect
- I lost my job but found a better one - every cloud has a silver lining.
- Every cloud has a silver lining - look for the positive.
Be on cloud nine
Meaning: To be extremely happy
- She’s been on cloud nine since the engagement.
- I was on cloud nine after passing the exam.
- Winning the award put him on cloud nine.
Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling ill or unwell
- I’m feeling under the weather today.
- She called in sick - she’s under the weather.
- I’ve been under the weather all week.
A ray of sunshine
Meaning: Someone who brings happiness to others
- Her daughter is a ray of sunshine in her life.
- You’re such a ray of sunshine on dark days.
Chase rainbows
Meaning: To pursue unrealistic goals
- Stop chasing rainbows and be practical!
- It’s nice to dream, but don’t just chase rainbows.
Storm Idioms
The calm before the storm
Meaning: A peaceful period before a difficult time
- Business is quiet now - it’s the calm before the storm.
- Enjoy this peace - it’s the calm before the storm.
Weather the storm
Meaning: To survive a difficult period
- The company managed to weather the storm of the recession.
- We’ll weather this storm together.
- She weathered the storm of criticism with grace.
Brainstorm
Meaning: To generate many ideas quickly
- Let’s brainstorm some solutions.
- The team brainstormed new marketing ideas.
- Brainstorming sessions can be very productive.
A storm in a teacup
Meaning: A big fuss over something unimportant
- Don’t worry about the complaint - it’s just a storm in a teacup.
- The media controversy was a storm in a teacup.
American variant: In American English, this is often “a tempest in a teapot.”
Wind and Other Weather Idioms
Get wind of
Meaning: To hear about something (often a secret)
- She got wind of the surprise party.
- Once the competitors get wind of our plans, they’ll react.
- I got wind of some interesting news.
It’s a breeze
Meaning: It’s very easy
- Don’t worry, the test is a breeze.
- With this tool, cleaning is a breeze.
- Once you know how, it’s a breeze.
Break the ice
Meaning: To make people feel more comfortable in a new situation
- Tell a joke to break the ice.
- Games help break the ice at parties.
- Someone needs to break the ice - it’s awkward!
Snowed under
Meaning: Overwhelmed with too much work
- I’m completely snowed under with projects this week.
- Sorry I can’t help - I’m snowed under.
- We’re always snowed under before the deadline.
Throw caution to the wind
Meaning: To take a risk without worrying about consequences
- She threw caution to the wind and quit her job.
- Sometimes you need to throw caution to the wind.
- He threw caution to the wind and invested everything.