Cloud Idioms and Phrases with Meanings and Example Usage in Simple English Sentences
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Discover the meaning behind cloud idioms!
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This guide will help you learn English idioms about clouds in a simple way.
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- A cloud hangs over someone – something is worrying or upsetting them
- Cast a cloud over – make people sad or unhappy about something
- Cloud cuckoo land – an unreal or foolishly hopeful place or idea
- Cloud of suspicion – people think someone may have done something wrong
- Cloud your judgment – stop you from thinking clearly
- Dark clouds on the horizon – trouble or problems are coming
- Every cloud has a silver lining – something good can come from a bad situation
- Head in the clouds – not paying attention or being unrealistic
- On cloud nine – very happy
- Storm clouds on the horizon – signs of serious trouble ahead
- Under a cloud – not trusted or thought to have done something wrong
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We include both cloud idioms, and non-idiom cloud expressions.
CONTENTS
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English Cloud Idioms: Discover Meanings, Examples and Origins
definition, example sentence, origin
This list includes idioms related to clouds with their meanings, origin and example sentences. Here are the phrases in alphabetical order
A cloud hangs over someone
- To feel worried, sad, or uncertain because of a problem or bad situation.
- Ever since the accident, a cloud has hung over the family.
- Comes from the image of a literal dark cloud casting a shadow, symbolizing gloom or trouble.
A cloud on the horizon
see dark clouds on the horizon, both have the same meaniing
Cast a cloud over
- To make a situation less happy or enjoyable.
- The scandal cast a cloud over the company’s success.
- Based on the metaphor of a cloud blocking sunlight, representing sadness or doubt.
Cloud cuckoo land
- A place or state of unrealistic or foolish optimism.
- Anyone who thinks money grows on trees is living in Cloud Cuckoo Land.
- Originates from Aristophanes’ play The Birds (414 BC), where “Cloud Cuckoo Land” was a fantasy city in the sky.
- “Cloud Cuckoo Land (Νεϕελοκοκκυγία) was a phrase invented by the comic playwright Aristophanes’ 2,400 years ago in The Birds”[1]
Cloud of suspicion
- A feeling that someone might be guilty or untrustworthy.
- He resigned while still under a cloud of suspicion.
- Derived from the metaphor of a dark cloud representing doubt or mistrust.
Cloud your judgment
- To make it difficult for someone to think clearly.
- Don’t let anger cloud your judgment.
- From the image of clouds obscuring the sky, used figuratively for unclear thinking.
- It is suggested in [2] that this could have originated from Descartes
Come out of the clouds
see head in the clouds: come out of the clouds has the same meaning as having your head in the clouds
Interested in Nature Idioms?
To see the ultimate list of idioms related to nature then visit our comprehensive list with meaning and example sentences called nature idioms.
Dark clouds on the horizon
- Signs of future trouble or difficulty.
- With rising costs, there are dark clouds on the horizon for small businesses.
- From the literal sight of storm clouds appearing in the distance, predicting bad weather or events.
Every cloud has a silver lining
- There is something good in every bad situation.
- Losing that job was hard, but it led me to a better one—every cloud has a silver lining.
- Comes from the visual image of sunlight shining around the edge of a dark cloud, symbolizing hope.
- This originated in 1634 in a poem called “Comus: A Mask Presented at Ludlow Castle” by John Milton [3].
Head in the clouds
- To be dreamy or unrealistic, not paying attention to reality.
- He’s got his head in the clouds instead of focusing on his studies.
- From the idea of someone’s head being high in the sky, detached from the real world.
On cloud nine
- Extremely happy or elated.
- She’s been on cloud nine since she got the promotion.
- Origin uncertain; possibly from U.S. weather classification, where “cloud nine” represented the highest cloud.
Storm clouds on the horizon
- Warning signs of coming problems or conflict.
- Political tensions suggest storm clouds on the horizon.
- Based on the literal image of dark storm clouds approaching, used figuratively for looming trouble.
- Linked to John Ruskin’s lectures on The Storm-Cloud of the Nineteenth Century , see [4].
Under a cloud
- Suspected of wrongdoing or dishonesty.
- The minister left office under a cloud after the investigation.
- From the idea of being covered by a cloud, representing shame, suspicion, or disgrace.
Phrases Related to Clouds but Not Idioms
A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand (biblical allusion)
- a small sign that trouble is coming
- There’s a cloud no bigger than a man’s hand on the horizon — we should prepare.
- from a Bible story where a small cloud grew into a great storm
As light as a cloud (simile)
- very light in weight or feeling
- This new blanket is as light as a cloud.
- from the idea that clouds float easily in the sky
Cloud over (phrasal verb)
- to become dark or sad
- Her face clouded over when she heard the news.
- from clouds covering the sun and making the sky dark
Clouded vision (metaphor)
- unclear thinking or seeing
- His anger gave him clouded vision.
- from the idea of clouds blocking what we can see clearly
Like a cloud (simile)
- soft or floating smoothly
- The dancers moved like a cloud across the stage.
- compares the look or movement to gentle clouds in the sky
Silver lining (metaphor – short version of the idiom)
- something good in a bad situation
- The silver lining of the delay is that we have more time to prepare.
- comes from light shining around the edge of a dark cloud
Wait till the clouds roll by (saying)
- be patient and let bad times pass
- Don’t rush into a decision — wait till the clouds roll by.
- from old sayings about storms clearing and calm returning
Weather Idioms
To see the ultimate list of idioms related to weather and the other articles in this series, visit our weather idioms page
Questions Related to Cloud Idioms
A metaphor for clouds compares clouds to emotions or thoughts. For example, “clouded vision” means unclear thinking. In the English language, clouds often describe emotion — happy, sad, or uncertain. Metaphors like this are common in everyday vocabulary and in idioms found in any large idioms dictionary.
Yes. On cloud nine is a very common English idiom. It means feeling great happiness or joy. When someone says, “I’m on cloud nine,” they feel bright and positive. This expression is often listed in idioms dictionaries as one of the happiest idioms in the English language.
The best-known saying is “Every cloud has a silver lining.” It means that even when life seems rainy or sad, something good can appear. It’s a positive expression often used to describe hope and optimism. You’ll find it in many English idioms dictionaries with an easy explanation of what the saying means.
The word cloud appears in many English expressions, like head in the clouds, under a cloud, or wait till the clouds roll by. Each phrase has a different meaning and emotion. These are examples of how the English language uses simple words to describe feelings. The largest idiom dictionaries often group these under weather or emotion idioms.
Resources Around the Web
We looked at the top 30 websites for rain idioms to see what is worth reading.
- Are these idioms actually used in real life? Well, on cloud nine is used / not used according to two viewpoints on [7]. I would say there are several options to say you are very happy, like “over the moon”, “made up”, “chuffed to bits”, and “on cloud nine”. These will be used in different locations and context, but they are used.
- best image (on cloud nine) [8]
- best cloud idioms infographic [5]
- best video – cloud and rainbow idioms [6]
References
[1] Anthony Doerr, CLOUD CUCKOO LAND, see https://www.anthonydoerr.com/
[2] Where did the phrase “emotions cloud your judgement” come from https://www.reddit.com/r/etymology/comments/84hlco/where_did_the_phrase_emotions_cloud_your/