|
www.learn-english-today.com |
|
| • business english • lessons &-exercises • phrasal verbs • wordgames • proverbs • fun • news • resources • contact • home • | |
|
English idioms relating to WEATHER - ATMOSPHERE |
|
| Once in a blue moon | If something happens
once in a blue moon, it occurs very rarely. "Bill has very little contact with his brother. They see each other once in a blue moon." |
| A bolt from the blue | To
refer to something as a bolt from the blue means that it happened completely unexpectedly. "The chairman's resignation came as a bolt from the blue!" |
| Cloud nine |
A person who is on
cloud nine is very happy because something |
| Come rain or shine |
If a person does something come rain or shine, they do it
regularly, whatever the circumstances. "He goes to the gym club every day, come rain or shine." |
| In the dark | If
someone is kept or left in the dark about something, they are not informed about it . "The personnel were kept in the dark about the merger until the last minute." |
| Fair-weather friend | Someone who acts as a friend when times are good, and is not there
when you are in trouble, is called a fair-weather friend. "I thought I could count on Bill, but I've discovered he's just a fair-weather friend." |
| The lull before the storm | This expression refers to a period of unnatural calm before a
difficult time or violent activity. "The sales start on January 1st. The quiet period before that is just the lull before the storm." |
| Reach for the moon | If
you reach for the moon, you are very ambitious and try to achieve something even if it's difficult. "Jenny is talented and ambitious; she always tends to reach for the moon." |
| Chasing rainbows | Someone
who is chasing rainbows is trying to get something they will never obtain. "She's trying to get into Harvard but I think she's chasing rainbows." |
| Wait for a raindrop in the drought |
When someone is waiting for a raindrop in the drought,
they are waiting or hoping for something that has little chance of happening. "For many people finding a job these days is like waiting for a raindrop in the drought! " |
| Raining cats and dogs | If
it's raining cats and dogs, it's raining very heavily. "We'll have to cancel the picnic I'm afraid. It's raining cats and dogs." |
| It never rains but it pours | This expression
is used to comment on the fact that when something bad happens, other bad things often happen too, and make the situation even worse. "First he forgot his briefcase, then he lost his wallet, and when he reached the car park, his car had been stolen - it never rains but it pours!" |
| A storm is brewing |
To say that a storm is brewing means that the atmosphere indicates that there is going to be trouble, probably with outbursts of anger or emotion. "As soon as we saw Pete's face, we knew there was a storm brewing." |
| In the eye of the storm | If
you are in the eye of the storm you are deeply involved in a
situation which is difficult or controversial and affects a lot of people. "The minister was often in the eye of the storm during the debate on the war in Iraq." |
| Storm in a teacup |
To
refer to something as a storm in a teacup means that you think that people are making a lot of unnecessary fuss or excitement about something unimportant. |
| Make hay while the sun shines | This
expression is used as an encouragement to take advantage of a good situation which may not last. Successful sportsmen are advised to make hay while the sun shines. |
| Snowed under | Someone who is snowed under has so many things to do, usually work, that they feel unable to cope with it all. "With the 'flu epidemic, doctors and nurses are completely snowed under." |
| Teeth chattering | If your teeth are chattering, you are extremely cold. "Was I cold? My teeth were chattering!" |
| Face like thunder | If someone has a face like thunder,
they look very angry. "When Dad is really angry, he has a face like thunder!" |
| Tide has turned |
When a trend has changed from one thing to another, the tide
has turned. "Before, people wanted to live in residential suburbs; now the tide has turned and warehouses are being converted into fashionable loft apartments." |
| Under the weather | If you are under the weather, you are not feeling very well. |
| Weather the storm |
If you weather the storm, you succeed in
surviving a difficult period or situation. "Given the current recession, the company is weathering the storm better than some others." |
| Know which way the wind blows |
This expression means that it is advisable to know how a situation is developing in order to be prepared for the changes that are likely to happen. "Before we decide on anything, we need to know which way the wind is blowing." |
|
|
|
|
|
|