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English Weather Idioms
Well, first of all, what do we mean by an ‘idiom’?
It is an expression that has its own meaning and can’t be understood by the individual meanings of each of the words. In fact, these ‘weather idioms’ are not about the weather at all. Idioms, like metaphors, are figurative language, not literal. They can make your speech more expressive and native speakers use them all the time.
Here is a sampling of 10 English idioms which happen to use weather words.
1. The weather holds. Use this expression to describe favorable weather conditions that continue for a period of time.
Example: “We’ll go for a bike ride tomorrow if the weather holds.”
2. Snowed under
The state of having too much work to do or a lot of things to deal with at once. Picture being under a heavy mound of snow. It takes a lot of work to dig out.
Example: “Cara is snowed under with work. She can’t come and watch the game with us tonight.”
3. Under the weather
To describe feeling unwell or minor illnesses that are not life threatening. It can sometimes be used when you feel exhausted after a long day or night.
Example: “Reini didn’t make it to the party last night. He was feeling under the weather.”
4. Cloud nine
If you are on cloud nine, you are extremely happy. In the 1950s the US Weather Bureau classified a type of cloud that was cumulonimbus, fluffy, and beautiful as ‘Cloud Nine.’
Example: "I’ve been on cloud nine since my wedding!"
5. A breeze
Easy or requiring little effort, originating from the sense of a light, effortless wind.
Example: "This exam is going to be a breeze."
6. Come rain or shine
No matter what happens. Sometimes this one does refer to the weather.
Example: "We’re having the tournament next week come rain or shine."
7. The calm before the storm
A brief moment of peace or quiet before a busy or difficult period arrives. It probably derived from the period of calmness that is often felt before a storm rolls in. Winds calm, birds stop chirping, squirrels stop chattering.
Example: "The whole family arrives tomorrow for Christmas. Today I’m going to enjoy the calm before the storm."
8. Run like the wind
The wind can blow very fast. When someone says to “run like the wind,” it’s time to move quickly.
Example: I was late and had to run like the wind to catch my flight.
9. Throw caution to the wind
When you decide to not worry about what might happen or when you don’t care what might result from your actions, you’re “throwing caution to the wind.”
Example: The rescuers saw that the trail was treacherous but threw caution to the wind and proceeded to reach the injured girl.
10. Nothing new under the sun
This idiom comes directly from Ecclesiastes 1:9, a verse from the Bible. It is a phrase that suggests all ideas or experiences have occurred or been expressed in some form before.
Example: While fashion trends are constantly changing, there's nothing new under the sun. Bell-bottomed pants cycled at least once in my mother’s day and twice in mine.
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