Common weather idioms

 

Weather Idioms & Their Meanings

Learning any language can be easy in some ways, but idioms often make it tricky to fully understand the humor or deeper meaning. When I teach my students, I notice that many of them don’t know the meaning of common idioms. At the same time, learning idioms can be a lot of fun!

I’ve created a list of weather-related idioms that you can use when talking about the weather. I’ve also provided examples and exercises to help you understand and memorize them more easily.

1. Under the weather

     →   Feeling sick or unwell."I think I'll stay home today—I'm feeling a bit under the weather."

2. Chase rainbows
   → To pursue unrealistic or unattainable goals.
   "He's always chasing rainbows instead of focusing on practical things."

3. Every cloud has a silver lining
   → There is something good in every bad situation.
   "Losing that job was hard, but I found something better. Every cloud has a silver lining."
   
   

4. Snowed under
   → Overwhelmed with work or responsibilities.
   "I'm snowed under with assignments this week."
   
   

5. Take a rain check
   → Politely decline something now, but say you'll do it later.
   "Can't make it to dinner tonight—can I take a rain check?"

6. Break the ice
   → To initiate conversation in an awkward or tense situation.
   "He told a joke to break the ice at the meeting."
   
   

7. Calm before the storm
   → A peaceful period before something chaotic or difficult.
   "The morning was quiet—it felt like the calm before the storm."

8. It never rains but it pours
   → Bad things tend to happen all at once.
   "First my car broke down, then I lost my wallet. It never rains but it pours."

9. Be on cloud nine

→ Extremely happy.

"He’s been on cloud nine since the baby was born."

10. It’s raining cats and dogs

→ It’s raining very heavily.

"Don’t forget your umbrella—it’s raining cats and dogs out there!"

11.  Throw caution to the wind

→ Take a risk without worrying about the consequences
"They threw caution to the wind and invested everything in the business

Fill in the Gaps: Weather Idioms

Idioms to use:

under the weather, it’s raining cats and dogs, break the ice, take a rain check, break in the clouds

1. I was feeling really _________ yesterday, so I didn’t go to work.
   
   

2. When we first met, telling a funny story helped _________ and made everyone comfortable.
   
   

3. Sorry, I can’t join you for dinner tonight—can I _________ and come another time?
   
   

4. We had to cancel our picnic because _________ all afternoon.
   
   

5. After weeks of stress, getting that good news was a real _________ for me.

Answer Key:

1. under the weather

2. break the ice

3. take a rain check

4. it’s raining cats and dogs

5. break in the clouds

Exercise 2: Match the Idiom to Its Meaning

Idiom	Meaning
1. Under the weather	A. Take a risk without thinking
2. Take a rain check	B. Feeling sick or unwell
3. Throw caution to the wind	C. Postpone something to a later time
4. Snowed under	D. Very happy
5. On cloud nine	E. Overwhelmed with work Answers: B,C,A,E,D Learning is not a race, but a journey to be enjoyed."