Weather Idioms in Nature with Meanings and Examples
Weather Idioms
- A bolt from the blue
- A ray of sunshine
- A storm is brewing
- Calm before the storm
- Chasing rainbows
- Every cloud has a silver lining
- Feel under the weather
- In the eye of a storm
- Make hay while the sun shines
- Weather the storm
- break the ice
- cloud nine
- come rain or shine
- fair weather player
- head in the clouds
- Rain on your Parade
- Raining cats and dogs
- Save for a Rainy day
- Stole my Thunder
- Storm in a Teacup
Weather-Related Idioms in English
idiom, definition, example sentence and example conversation
A bolt from the blue
- A sudden, unexpected event or surprise.
- The sudden announcement of job losses was a bolt from the blue for the employees.
- “I didn’t see that coming!” “It was a bolt from the blue for all of us.”
A ray of sunshine
- Someone or something that brings happiness or joy.
- After a long, tiring day, you are a ray of sunshine.
- “I had a terrible day at work.” “At least my cat is a ray of sunshine for me.”
A storm is brewing
- There are signs that a difficult or argument is developing.
- The tension in the office suggests that a storm is brewing.
- “Have you noticed how quiet everyone is today?” “Yeah, there is a storm is brewing.”
Calm before the storm
- A peaceful time before a period of trouble or difficulty.
- The quiet in the office was the calm before the storm of upcoming deadlines.
- “Why is everyone so quiet before the big exam?” “It’s the calm before the storm.”
Chasing rainbows
- Trying to do something unlikely to happen.
- Sarah spent years chasing rainbows, always looking for her perfect job.
- “Why do you think Jack is always changing his career path?”, “He’s chasing rainbows, hoping to find that perfect job that doesn’t exist
Every cloud has a silver lining
- There’s a positive aspect to every negative situation.
- Losing the job was tough, but finding a new opportunity proved that every cloud has a silver lining.
- “I can’t believe I got laid off.” “Well, you never know what good things might come next.
Feel under the weather
- Feeling unwell or sick.
- I won’t be able to make it to the party tonight; I’m a bit under the weather.
- “Are you coming to the gathering?” “I can’t; I’m feeling under the weather. Maybe next time.”
In the eye of a storm
- Being in a difficult situation that involves a lot of people.
- During the political scandal, the press secretary found herself in the eye of the storm, fielding questions.
- “I heard there’s a major controversy unfolding in the government. How is Sarah handling it?”. “She’s right in the eye of the storm, trying to address public concerns.”
Make hay while the sun shines
- Take advantage of an opportunity while it lasts.
- The market is booming, make hay while the sun shines and invest wisely.
- “The job fair is today. Should I go tomorrow instead?” “No, go today. Make hay while the sun shines, and you might find a great opportunity.”
Weather the storm
- Survive difficult circumstances and come out ok.
- The small business was able to weather the storm of economic downturns.
- “It seems like the company is facing a lot of challenges lately.”, “Yes, but I believe we can weather the storm if we stick together.”
Break the Ice
To do or say something to make people feel more comfortable in a new or awkward situation.
The teacher told a funny story to break the ice on the first day of class.
We played a game to break the ice at the party.
Cloud Nine
To be extremely happy.
She was on cloud nine after winning the competition.
He felt like he was on cloud nine when he got the job.
Come Rain or Shine
No matter what happens, something will be done.
I will help you move, come rain or shine.
She goes jogging every morning, come rain or shine.
Fair Weather Player
Someone who only supports or helps when things are going well.
He’s just a fair weather player; he quits when the team starts losing.
Don’t be a fair weather player—help your friends even when things are tough.
Head in the Clouds
To be daydreaming or not paying attention.
She always has her head in the clouds during math class.
Don’t have your head in the clouds when you cross the street.
Rain on Your Parade
To spoil someone’s plans or happiness.
I don’t want to rain on your parade, but the concert is canceled.
He rained on my parade by telling me the bad news.
Raining Cats and Dogs
Raining very heavily.
It’s raining cats and dogs, so don’t forget your umbrella!
We stayed inside because it was raining cats and dogs.
Save for a Rainy Day
To save something (usually money) for a time when it is needed.
I always save a little money for a rainy day.
She put some coins in her piggy bank to save for a rainy day.
Stole My Thunder
To take attention or praise away from someone else.
He stole my thunder by announcing his news first.
She worked hard, but her friend stole her thunder at the meeting.
Storm in a Teacup
A big fuss about something small or unimportant.
Their argument was just a storm in a teacup.
Don’t worry, it’s only a storm in a teacup.
To see the ultimate list of idioms related to nature then visit our comprehensive list with meaning and example sentence called nature idioms
FAQ English Idioms Related to Weather
What are some idiomatic expressions about weather?
Common weather idioms in English include “it’s raining cats and dogs” (raining heavily), “under the weather” (feeling unwell), “on cloud nine” (extremely happy), “weather the storm” (endure difficulties), “break the ice” (start a conversation), “take a rain check” (postpone an invitation), “come rain or shine” (no matter what), and “throw caution to the wind” (act recklessly)
What are the 10 expressions for describing weather?
Ten popular weather idioms are:
- Under the weather (feeling sick)
- Raining cats and dogs (raining heavily)
- On cloud nine (very happy)
- Weather the storm (survive difficulties)
- Break the ice (start social interaction)
- Take a rain check (postpone)
- Come rain or shine (regardless of conditions)
- Snowed under (overwhelmed with work)
- Every cloud has a silver lining (there’s something good in every bad situation)
- Head in the clouds (being unrealistic or dreamy)
What is the idiom for rainy weather?
The idiom “it’s raining cats and dogs” is used to describe very heavy rain or a downpour
How’s the weather idiom?
“How’s the weather?” is a straightforward phrase used to ask about the current weather conditions. It is not an idiom itself, but idiomatic responses might include “It’s raining cats and dogs” or “It’s a breeze today” (meaning the weather is easy or pleasant)
What does ‘take a rain check’ mean?
“Take a rain check” means to politely decline an invitation but suggest doing it another time
What does ‘cloud nine’ mean?
“Cloud nine” refers to a state of extreme happiness or bliss
What does ‘throw caution to the wind’ mean?
“Throw caution to the wind” means to take a risk or act without worrying about the consequences
What does ‘never rains but it pours’ mean?
“It never rains but it pours” describes a situation where problems or difficult events seem to happen all at once, not just one at a time
What does ‘save for a rainy day’ mean?
“Save for a rainy day” means to put aside money or resources for a time when they might be needed, especially in case of trouble or bad luck
How can weather idioms help English learners?
Learning weather idioms expands your vocabulary, helps you sound more like a native speaker, and makes conversations more engaging and expressive
. English speakers often use these idioms in both casual and formal situations, so understanding them is useful for ESL learners and anyone wanting to improve their English fluency.
What are some sun-related idioms?
Examples include “a ray of sunshine” (someone who brings happiness), “make hay while the sun shines” (take advantage of good conditions), and “everything under the sun” (everything possible)
How do you describe bad weather using idioms?
Idioms for bad weather include “it’s raining cats and dogs” (heavy rain), “under the weather” (feeling ill), “weather the storm” (endure tough times), and “stormy relationship” (conflict between people)
Why do English speakers use weather idioms?
Weather is a universal topic and using idioms makes language richer and more relatable. They help describe emotions, situations, and experiences in a vivid, memorable way