What is the weather like in the UK?
Well, it seems to change from one day to the next!
Test your knowledge of weather vocabulary here.
Below is a list of the most commonly used idioms about the weather in English:
As right as rain: to feel fine and healthy.
- Don't worry about me, I'm as right as rain after my knee operation.
Be a breeze: to be very easy to do.
- Our English exam was a breeze. I'm sure I'll get top marks.
Be snowed under: to have so much to do that you are having trouble doing it all.
- I'm snowed under at work right now because two of my colleagues are on holiday.
Break the ice: to say or do something to make someone feel relaxed or at ease in a social setting.
- He offered to get her a drink to help break the ice.
Calm before the storm: the quiet, peaceful period before a moment of great activity or mayhem.
- The in-laws were about to arrive with their kids so she sat on the sofa with a cup of coffee enjoying the calm before the storm.
Chase rainbows: when someone tries to do something that they will not achieve
- I think she's chasing rainbows if she thinks she can get into Oxford with her bad grades.
Come rain or shine: you can depend on someone to be there no matter what or whatever the weather.
- I'll be there to help you move house come rain or shine.
Every cloud has a silver lining: There is always something positive to come out of an unpleasant or difficult situation.
- I got laid off from work yesterday, but every cloud has a silver lining and now I can spend more time writing my book.
Fair-weather friend: a person who is only your friend during good times or when things are going well for you but disappears when things become difficult or you have problems.
- She was a fair-weather friend because she was interested in me once I had lost my job.
Get wind of: to learn or hear of something that should be a secret.
- He got wind of the closure of the company so started looking for a new job immediately.
Have your head in the clouds: to be out of touch of reality. Your ideas may not be sensible or practical.
- He has his head in the clouds if he seriously thinks he's going to get a promotion soon.
It never rains but it pours: when things don't just go wrong but very wrong and other bad things happen too.
- First he lost his keys to the house, then his wallet and then his car broke down. It never rains but it pours.
It´s raining cats and dogs: it's raining very hard.
- Take you umbrella and a jacket because it's raining cats and dogs outside.
On cloud nine: to be extremely happy.
- They were both on cloud nine during their honeymoon.
Put on ice: to postpone for another day.
- The project has been put on ice until our boss decides what to do next.
Ray of hope: there is a chance that something positive will happen.
- There is a ray of hope after all, it looks like we won't be losing our jobs.
Save for a rainy day: to save for the future when it might suddenly be needed (unexpectedly).
- Don't spend your entire wage in one night. You should save for a rainy day.
Steal my thunder: when someone takes attention away from someone else.
- Don't wear that dress to the wedding; the bride won't like it because you'll be stealing her thunder.
Storm in a teacup: when someone makes a small problem larger than it really is.
- Those two are always arguing about something, it's just a storm in a teacup.
Storm is brewing: indication that something is about to become bad or explode
- You could tell by the looks on their faces that a storm was brewing.
Take a rain check: decline something now but offer to do it at a later date.
- Thanks for inviting me to dinner but I can't this week. Can I take a rain check on that?
Throw caution to the wind: to go crazy and forget all responsibilities or commitments.
- They threw caution to the wind and quit their jobs in the heat of the moment.
Under the weather: you are not feeling well
- Paul isn't coming with us because he feels a little under the weather.
