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Download the Weather Idioms List & PDF Worksheets
View the updated web-version of the weather idioms list in the table below.
The idiom worksheets and games are also free to download.
- Download and print the PDFs.
- Use the materials for interactive learning activities in class.
- Students can also complete the worksheets to review or for self-study.
Weather Idiom Worksheets for ESL Students
Worksheet A: Defining Idioms & Writing Sentences with Idioms
Worksheet B: Reading Idioms in Context & Describing Meanings
Fun Weather Idiom Games for the Classroom
Weather Idioms Checklist (for BINGO)
29 Idioms and Phrases About Weather
*Updated: January 2019
| Idiom / Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| a breeze | easy | Riding a tricycle is such a breeze. |
| break the ice | doing something first in a social setting | Let me break the ice and buy everyone a drink. |
| calm before the storm | a peaceful period before mayhem | The teacher is enjoying the calm before the storm. All of the students will arrive soon. |
| chase rainbows | attempt something that will never be achieved | You're chasing rainbows if you think you're going to be a rock star. |
| every cloud has a silver lining | be optimistic | She got fired but found a better job she. Every cloud has a silver lining. |
| fair-weather friend | a person who is only a friend in good times | I try to avoid fair-weather friends. They aren't very sincere. |
| get a second wind | have new energy after an attempt | I was exhausted after 3 kilometers of running, but I got a second wind after I passed the beach. |
| get wind of something | overhear something about someone or something (often gossip) | Sherry got wind that her ex-boyfriend was coming to the same bar, so she went home. |
| have your head in the clouds | to be unaware or oblivious | You always have your head in the clouds. Do you have any idea what's happening? |
| know which way the wind blows | know the end result | Nobody knows which way the wind will blow. Just try to be positive. |
| on cloud nine | very happy | Elizabeth was on cloud nine when she put on the diamond ring. |
| put on ice | postpone | Let's put this problem on ice and get back to it tomorrow. |
| rain on someone else's parade | infringe on someone's happiness | Stop raining on my parade whenever you get miserable. |
| raining cats and dogs | raining heavily | It's raining cats and dogs. Remember your umbrella. |
| ray of hope | a slight chance that something positive will occur | She still had a ray of hope that she would get into medical school. |
| right as rain | feeling very well or fit | After a walk through the park, I feel as right as rain. My mind feels clear. |
| save for a rainy day | save money in case something unfortunate happens | You should save for a rainy day. You could get injured or become unemployed. |
| shoot the breeze | chitchat | Let's grab lunch and shoot the breeze. |
| skate on thin ice | do something risky | He was skating on thin ice when he insulted the boss. |
| snowed under | having too much work to do | I'm really snowed under now. Can I do the report tomorrow? |
| steal someone's thunder | to take credit for someone else's achievement | Some companies steal another's thunder and ignore copyright laws. |
| storm in a teacup | make a small problem bigger than it is | Don't make a storm in a teacup. We can go to another restaurant that doesn't require reservations. |
| storm is brewing | an indication that something bad could occur | A feel like a storm is brewing and the stock market is about to crash. |
| take a raincheck | reschedule at another time | Can I take a raincheck? I don't have time to hang out tonight. |
| take the wind out of my sails | to feel deflated | You really took the wind out of my sails when you laughed at my new invention. |
| the tip of the iceberg | a small part of a bigger problem | The tax evasion was just the tip of the iceberg. The company has committed countless other crimes. |
| throw caution to the wind | to let go of all responsibilities and have fun | Let's throw caution to the wind, quit our jobs, and go on vacation! |
| under the weather | feel sick | Sorry, I can't come to work today. I'm feeling a bit under the weather. |
| when it rains, it pours | many misfortunes often occur all at once | Last week, my dog died and I broke my leg. When it rains, it pours. |
Extra Examples of Weather Idioms in Use
Do you want to read more examples and sentences with weather idioms?
Try entering the expressions in a corpus database or language app.
We highly recommend the following corpus resources and tools: