Wind Idioms and Phrases with Meanings and Example Usage in Simple English Sentences
Home > weather idioms > wind idioms
Wind Idioms are English phrases that people use in conversation that use wind to help understand the true meaning of the expression, which is different from the meaning of just the words.
IDIOM EXAMPLES - QUICK LINKS
- blow away – to impress strongly.
- blow with the wind – to follow the current situation or change easily.
- get wind of – to hear about something secret or unknown.
- gone with the wind – disappeared completely or lost.
- in the wind – happening or about to happen.
- is a breeze – very easy to do.
- knock the wind out of – to make someone lose their breath suddenly.
- run like the wind – to run very fast.
- sail against the wind – to act against difficulties or others.
- sail close to the wind – to take risks or not follow rules.
- scattered to the four winds – spread far and wide.
- second wind – regained strength or energy after fatigue.
- see which way the wind blows – to observe before deciding.
- something in the wind – a sign that something will happen.
- take the wind out of someone’s sails – to reduce someone’s confidence.
- throw caution to the wind – to act without worrying about risk.
- to wind someone up – to tease or annoy someone.
- whirlwind romance – a very quick, passionate relationship.
- wind at your back – to have an advantage or support.
- wind down – to relax or slowly finish something.
- wind of war – signs that war may come.
see our free infographic with wind idioms below
Wind Idioms are common expressions relating to the wind and these include wind idioms, wind related expressions that are not idioms, blow idioms and English idioms to learn related to the weather..
CONTENTS
We will also include free downloads and plan to offer a great e-book with insights to how native speakers use these rain idioms.
Wind Idioms Meanings, Examples and Origins
definition, example sentence, origin
This list includes idioms related to wind with their meanings, origin and example sentences. Here are the phrases in alphabetical order
An ill wind
- A bad situation that still benefits someone.
- It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good—at least the repairs gave me a new roof.
- From the proverb “It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good,” first recorded in the 16th century, meaning that even misfortune helps someone.
Bag of wind
- A person who talks too much but says little of value.
- He’s just a bag of wind when it comes to politics.
- Related to “windbag,” comparing empty talk to air with no substance.
Blow away
- Surprise or impress someone very much
- The magician’s tricks blew the audience away
- Comes from the idea of being moved or swept off your feet by something powerful
Blow hot and cold
- To keep changing your attitude or feelings toward something.
- She’s been blowing hot and cold about moving abroad.
- Comes from the fable of the man and the satyr, where a man blows hot and cold with the same breath, symbolizing inconsistency.
Blow in the wind
- to be undecided and not settled
- She has to decide one way or the other, she can’t leave it blowing in the wind forever..
- Comes from the idea that something blowing in the wind is loose and not ‘tied down’
- There are several viewpoints that the idiom comes from the bible, inspired by an autobiography of Woody Guthrie, or made popular by a Bob Dylan song in 1963 (blowin’ in the wind).
Blow with the wind
Blow with the wind is not an idiom. See wind expressions that are not idioms below.
Get wind of
- hear a secret or news
- The boss got wind of our plan.
- from the way animals smell or sense something in the air
Gone with the wind
- disappeared or lost
- All his money was gone with the wind.
- from the way the wind carries things away
In the wind
- expected to happen soon
- There’s change in the wind at the office.
- from how wind often signals something coming
Is a breeze
- very easy
- The test was a breeze.
- from the light, easy feeling of a soft wind
Knock the wind out of
- shock or stop someone suddenly
- The news knocked the wind out of me.
- from losing breath when hit or surprised
Run like the wind
- run very fast
- The dog ran like the wind across the field.
- from how quickly wind moves
Sail against the wind
- go against difficulty or opposition
- She’s sailing against the wind trying to change that rule.
- from sailing when the wind blows the wrong way
Sail close to the wind
- take a risky or dangerous chance
- He sails close to the wind with his jokes at work.
- from steering a ship too near the wind’s direction
Scattered to the four winds
- spread far apart in all directions
- After the storm, their things were scattered to the four winds.
- from wind blowing things everywhere
Second wind
- new energy after being tired
- After a break, she got her second wind and finished the race.
- from runners feeling tired, then suddenly refreshed
See which way the wind blows
- wait to see what will happen before acting
- Let’s see which way the wind blows before deciding.
- from sailors checking wind direction before sailing
Something in the wind
- a sign that change is coming
- There’s something in the wind about new rules.
- from smelling or sensing something carried by the wind
Take the wind out of someone's sails
- make someone lose confidence or energy
- His criticism took the wind out of her sails.
- from sailing when wind suddenly stops pushing the boat
Throw caution to the wind
- take a risk without worrying
- She threw caution to the wind and quit her job.
- from letting go of care like tossing it into the air
To wind someone up
- tease or annoy someone
- He loves to wind his brother up.
- from turning something tight like winding a toy
Whirlwind romance
- A very fast and intense love story
- They met in June and married in August — it was a whirlwind romance
- From the image of a whirlwind moving quickly and powerfully
Wind at your back
- having help or luck on your side
- With the wind at our back, we finished early.
- from sailing faster when the wind pushes you forward
Wind down
- Relax or slow down after being busy or active
- After work, I like to wind down with a cup of tea
- From machines or clocks that slowly stop moving as they lose energy
Wind of war
- signs that conflict is coming
- The wind of war was in the air before the fighting began.
- from the wind carrying signs or feelings of danger
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.
Phrases Related to Wind but Not Idioms
A puff of wind
- a small, quick bit of wind
- A puff of wind blew out the candle.
- from how the air moves lightly for a moment
As the Wind Blows
- changing or moving as things happen
- Opinions change as the wind blows.
- from how wind changes direction easily
Break wind
- to pass gas
- He quietly broke wind after dinner.
- a polite way to say pass gas
Breath of wind
- a very gentle movement of air
- There wasn’t a breath of wind all day.
- from the idea that wind can be soft like breathing
Candle in the Wind
- something fragile or short-lived
- Her life was like a candle in the wind.
- made popular by Elton John’s song, meaning life can be easily lost
Go Like the Wind
- move or travel very fast
- The horse went like the wind.
- from comparing speed to the rushing wind
Gust of wind
- a short, strong burst of wind
- A gust of wind blew the papers away.
- from sudden increases in wind strength
Like the wind
- very fast or smoothly
- He ran like the wind to catch the bus.
- from comparing motion to the quick movement of air
Wind someone up
- tease or annoy someone
- He loves to wind his sister up.
- from tightening something like a spring until it’s tense
Winds of Change
- signs of new beginnings or important changes
- The winds of change are blowing through the company.
- from wind symbolizing movement and transformation
Whispering wind
- gentle wind making a soft sound
- The whispering wind moved through the trees.
- from how light wind sounds like a whisper
Weather Idioms
To see the ultimate list of idioms related to weather and the other articles in this series, visit our weather idioms page
Common Wind Idioms Questions
The wind is often compared to an invisible force that moves things around, like a gentle breath or a strong push. For example, we say “the wind is a restless traveler” to describe how it moves freely everywhere.
A wind idiom is a phrase or expression that uses the word “wind” to mean something different from the actual air movement. For example, “to break wind” means to fart, and “to be full of hot air” means talking too much without meaning.
- “A strong wind does not last forever.”
- “The wind shows us the way if we listen.”
Windy slang includes informal or playful expressions like “to wind up” meaning to tease someone, or “windbag,” meaning a person who talks too much.
Using Wind Idioms in the English Language
Wind idioms are useful to know if you want to learn English well. Here are some common idiomatic expressions about wind:
- “Get wind of” — to hear a secret or news
- “Second wind” — new energy after feeling tired
- “See which way the wind blows” — to wait and see what happens before making a decision
- “Three sheets to the wind” — very drunk (used as slang)
Each wind expression has a special meaning in English, and you can find example sentences for each one in the idioms dictionary. Learning these phrases and their definitions will help you understand English conversations and stories better.
Why Learn Wind Idioms?
When you learn English idioms like wind phrases you can use them in conversations and writing. Looking up wind idioms in the largest idiom dictionary or an online dictionary can help you practice and remember what each expression means. Making a list of your favorite idioms is a great way to improve your skills!