20 weather idioms that will put you on cloud nine

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Yanni Chow
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  • Writing will be a breeze with these English words and phrases all about the weather
  • Have you ever felt snowed under by the amount of work you have?
Yanni Chow |
Published: 
10SHARES
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The weather has been gloomy and it’s been raining cats and dogs lately in Hong Kong. While we all wait for our moment in the sun, let’s take a look at these phrases related to weather that will make your writing flourish.

Health idioms to keep you fit as a fiddle

Storm in a teacup

Meaning: Great outrage or excitement about a trivial matter.

Example: I’m sure this is just a storm in a teacup; Alvin and Sarah will patch things up in no time.

Snowed under

Meaning: To be overwhelmed with a very large amount of something, especially work.

Example: I was snowed under with final exams last week.

It’s fine, everything is fine. Photo: Shutterstock

Lightning never strikes the same place twice

Meaning: A lucky or unusual situation or event is unlikely to happen again in exactly the same circumstances or to the same person.

Example: The team was lucky to get that win but lightning never strikes the same place twice. They may not do as well next time.

The calm before the storm

Meaning: A period of unusual tranquillity or stability that comes before difficult times.

Example: It looks nice outside but this is just the calm before the storm; the Observatory said that a typhoon is coming.

To catch lightning in a bottle

Meaning: to succeed in a way that is very lucky or unlikely.

Example: He caught lightning in a bottle with the success of his very first book.

The hard part is getting it out again. Photo: Shutterstock

Rain or shine

Meaning: Whatever the weather or circumstance.

Example: Every Wednesday, rain or shine, Alison visits the elderly home with warm food.

On cloud nine

Meaning: To be extremely happy.

Example: I was on cloud nine when I won the competition.

These idioms about success will help you raise the bar on your writing

Rain on someone’s parade

Meaning: To prevent someone from enjoying an event; spoil someone’s plans.

Example: I’m sorry to rain on your parade but you’re not allowed to eat on the premises.

Throw caution to the wind

Meaning: To act in a completely reckless manner.

Example: After thinking about it for years, he finally threw caution to the wind, quit his job, and started his own company.

Steal someone’s thunder

Meaning: To prevent another person from getting success or attention by doing or saying something they were planning to do; to take credit for someone else’s idea, or to overshadow someone.

Example: Sam stole my thunder when he said he’d done all the work; I actually did it all.

In hindsight, the ski mask was a little suspicious. Photo: Shutterstock

Weather the storm

Meaning: to deal with a difficult situation without being harmed or damaged too much.

Example: Newspapers are weathering the storm of the emergence of online media.

When it rains, it pours

Meaning: Misfortunes or difficult situations tend to follow each other in rapid succession or arrive all at the same time.

Example: I never had an injury before in my life but in the last year, I’ve had a sprain and a broken foot. It’s true what they say about injuries: when it rains, it pours

Life isn’t all rainbows and unicorns

Meaning: Real life does not just consist of innocent, carefree happiness; there is more hardship or suffering in reality than one realises.

Example: Life isn’t all rainbows and unicorns, so you have to get used to it and be brave.

We wish though. Photo: Shutterstock

To whistle down the wind

Meaning: Let something go; abandon something.

Example: Once I found out that she had lied, I had to whistle her down the wind.

It’s a breeze

Meaning: very easy to do or achieve.

Example: After all the hard work he put in, the exam was a breeze.

Food idioms that will spice up your writing

Cooking up a storm

Meaning: to do something with a lot of energy and often skill; to enthusiastically make a lot of food in a short period of time

Example: Rob was in the kitchen cooking up a storm for the holiday.

On thin ice

Meaning: In a precarious or risky situation.

Example: I’m on thin ice with my boss because I’ve been late two days in a row.

FYI if it looks like this, get off the ice – or you’re about to be under it. Photo: Shutterstock

Pure as the driven snow

Meaning: Completely virtuous or innocent; having no moral flaws.

Example: I would not claim that politicians are as pure as the driven snow.

Make hay while the sun shines

Meaning: To make the most of a favourable situation while it lasts.

Example: We’ve got a few days off work so let’s make hay while the sun shines and go camping.

Moment in the sun

Meaning: A time of being popular or getting a lot of attention.

Example: It was lovely to see my teachers get their moment in the sun.

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