All at Sea : Understanding Water Idioms in Nature
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10 Nature Idioms related to Water with Meanings and Examples
- (All) At sea
- A drop in the ocean
- A snowball’s chance in hell
- Across the Pond
- Break the ice
- Cuts no ice
- Don’t rain on my parade
- The coast is clear
- The tip of the iceberg
- Walking on thin ice
idiom, definition, example sentence and example conversation
(All) At sea
- Confused or lost; in a state of uncertainty.
- After the sudden change in management, the employees felt all at sea about their future.
- “How are you feeling about the new project?” “I’m all at sea. We haven’t received any instructions yet.”
A drop in the ocean
- A very small amount compared to the whole.
- Giving a penny to charity is just a drop in the ocean compared to what’s needed.
- “I want to help the environment, but I’m not sure where to start.” “Don’t worry. Every small action counts. Even picking up trash can help. It’s like a drop in the ocean.”
A snowball’s chance in hell
- Almost no chance of success.
- Trying to convince him to change his mind, you have a snowball’s chance in hell.
- “Think he’ll agree to our proposal?” “Never, a snowball’s chance in hell.”
Across the Pond
- Between the United States and the United Kingdom; often used to refer to the Atlantic Ocean.
- She moved across the pond to study in London.
- “Where did you meet your friend?” “We met when I was studying across the pond in New York.”
Break the ice
- To introduce each other in a situation where people are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with each other.
- Tom told a joke to break the ice at the team meeting.
- “This is our new colleague, Sarah. Let’s break the ice and have a chat!”
Cuts no ice
- To have no influence or effect.
- His excuses cut no ice with the teacher; he still received an ‘F’ grade.
- “I tried explaining the situation, but it cuts no ice with them. I might have to find another solution.”
Don’t rain on my parade
- Don’t spoil or ruin someone’s plans or excitement.
- Despite criticism, I won’t let anyone rain on my parade; I’m excited about my project.
- “Lucy is upset I got a promotion at work!” “That’s fantastic! Don’t let her rain on your parade. Celebrate!”
The coast is clear
- It’s safe to proceed; there is no danger or problems.
- After checking the area, he signaled that the coast is clear for them to enter.
- “Is it safe to come out now?” “Yes, the coast is clear. There’s no one around.”
The tip of the iceberg
- Only a small, visible part of a much larger issue or problem.
- The financial losses were just the tip of the iceberg for the struggling company.
- “Did the company report any losses?” “Yes, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are deeper financial issues.”
Walking on thin ice
- Being very careful in fear of upsetting another person.
- Speaking openly about the controversial topic felt like walking on thin ice.
- “Be careful with your comments during the meeting.” “I know; I feel like I’m walking on thin ice with this topic.”
