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Learning ‘American’: Weather Idioms

Lightning in large thunder storm. Purple hue to image.
Lightning in large thunder storm off the coast of Australia

On top of the all the words in English, and their strange spellings, there are all the phrases Americans use informally. These casual sayings are called idioms, and learning them is important for fully understanding ‘American’ English. Luckily, we’re here to help you learn some common idioms.

Today’s idioms are all about weather!

To brighten up : to become more cheerful

To take a shine to : to develop a liking for

To make hay when the sun shines : to make the most of an opportunity while it lasts

Come rain or shine : whatever the weather/situation

To chase rainbows : to pursue something that is impossible/impractical

A man and a woman in business attire chasing rainbows
A man and a woman in business attire chasing rainbows

To save for a rainy day : to put something aside for a future time in which it may be needed

To wait for a raindrop in the drought : to wait/hope for something which has little chance of happening

Right as rain : fit and healthy

To take a rain check : to refuse an offer, while demonstrating enthusiasm to accept it in the future

Into each life some rain must fall : everyone must experience difficulties or ill fortune at one time or another

To rain on someone’s parade : to spoil someone’s plans/to prevent someone from enjoying themselves

When it rains it pours : misfortunes seem to either all come in quick succession or all at once

Raining cats and dogs : raining heavily

Dry Spell : a period in which someone is having less success than usual

Windfall : a large amount of money which is won or unexpectedly received

To shoot the breeze : to have a casual conversation

To get wind of something : to hear a rumour about something

To know which way the wind blows : to understand what is happening in changing circumstances and be able to anticipate what will happen in the future

To sail close to the wind : to verge on the limit of what is acceptable, allowed, or honourable

To throw caution to the wind : to take a great risk/to behave recklessly

Cloud/storm on the horizon : approaching problem

Every cloud has a silver lining : every difficult situation has a more comforting and hopeful aspect

Cloud on a blue sky background with the sun shining around it
Cloud on a blue sky background with the sun shining around it

Cloud nine : a state of great happiness

To have your head in the clouds : to have unrealistic, impractical, or fanciful ideas

“I don’t have the foggiest” : “I don’t have a clue” / “I have no idea”