The document discusses many English idioms and expressions related to weather. It provides the meaning and examples of common sayings like "under the weather" (feeling unwell), "fair-weather friend" (someone who is only friendly when things are going well), and "as right as rain" (feeling completely better). It also covers expressions involving types of weather like "raining cats and dogs" (raining very heavily) or situations involving weather like "save for a rainy day" (saving money for unexpected future needs).

2. The Weather
In the UK, people have a reputation for being obsessed
with the weather – and it’s true, people love to talk about
the weather
One of the reasons for this is that weather is
unpredictable and it changes frequently. So perhaps it’s
not surprising that the English have so many idioms and
idiomatic expressions relating to the weather!
Here are some examples of weather-related idioms in
English…

3. under the weather
 – to be or feel under the weather is to be or feel ill.
 Examples:
1. Paul has gone to bed because he’s feeling a bit under
the weather.
2. I’m feeling under the weather – I think I’ve caught
John’s cold.

4. fair-weather friend
 – a fair-weather friend is someone who is your friend
when things are going well for you, and who stops
being your friend when you are having problems.
 Example:
 When I lost my job and my home he didn’t want to see
me: he was a fair-weather friend

5. as right as rain
 – to feel as right as rain is to feel completely well
again. This expression is often used as a reassurance.
 Examples:
1. He had an operation on his back last month; but he’s
as right as rain now.
2. I don’t feel well but I’m sure I’ll be as right as rain for
tomorrow’s meeting.
3. She tucked her son up in bed and told him he’d feel as
right as rain in the morning.

6. raining cats and dogs
 – if it is raining cats and dogs it is raining very
heavily.
 Example:
 Don’t forget your umbrella: it’s raining cats and dogs!

7. come rain or shine
 – come rain or shine means whatever happens or whatever
the weather.
 Examples:
1. I’ll be there for you, come rain or shine.
2. I take my dog for a walk every day, come rain or shine. (I
take my dog for a walk every day, whatever the weather)
3. Come rain or shine I’m going to pass my English exam. (No
matter what happens I’m going to pass my English exam)

8. bucket down
 (phrasal verb) – to bucket down is to rain very heavily.
 Informal UK English.
 Example:
 It’s bucketing down; don’t forget your umbrella.

9. take a rain check
 (on something) – if you take a rain check on
something you postpone it until another time.
 Informal English.
 Examples:
1. Can I take a rain check?
2. Can I take a rain check on our dinner date? I have to
work late tonight

10. save for a rainy day
 – to save for a rainy day is to save something
(especially money) for a time in the future when it
might be needed unexpectedly.
 Examples:
 1. I’m saving £50 a month for a rainy day.
 2. News headline: Fewer Britons saving for a rainy day.

11. it never rains but it pours
 – this proverb means that when one bad thing
happens, other bad things will inevitably happen at
the same time or quickly one after the other.
 Example
 I’ve had a horrible week. First I locked myself out of
my house, then my car broke down, and today I fell
over on my way to work. It never rains but it pours!

12. snowed under
 – to be snowed under is to have too much work to do.
 Examples:
 1. She is totallys nowed under at work.
 2. We’re snowed under at work because two members
of staff are on holiday.

13. break the ice
 – to break the ice is to do or say something that makes
people feel less shy, nervous or embarrassed, and more
relaxed, in a social setting.
 Examples:
1. We played party games to help break the ice!
2. He broke the ice by telling a funny story about his dog.
3. Sometimes it can be hard to break the ice when you meet
someone new.

14. put on ice
 – to put something on ice is delay or postpone it.
 Examples:
1. We’ve put the project on ice until we have enough
money to pay for it.
2. The new housing development has been put on ice
because the building company are bankrupt. A new
company will take over in six months time.

15. the tip of the iceberg
 – if something is the tip of the iceberg it is only a
small, easily visible, part of a problem – there is much
more to the problem than is immediately obvious.
 Example:
 I’ve tidied the kitchen but it’s just the tip of the iceberg
– the rest of the house is a mess.

16. a ray of hope
 – if there is a ray of hope there is a small chance that
something positive will happen. The negative
form, not a ray of hope, is often used
 Example:
 News headline: New research is a ray of hope for
cancer treatment.

17. under a cloud
 – if someone is under a cloud they are suspected of
having done something wrong.
 Examples:
 1. She left the company under a cloud after some
money went missing.
 2. He was suspected of taking bribes and resigned
under a cloud.

18. on cloud nine
 – if you are on cloud nine you are extremely happy.
 Example of use:
 He was on cloud nine after she agreed to marry him.

19. have one’s head in the clouds
 – to have one’s head in the clouds is to be out of touch
with reality: to have ideas and thoughts that are not
sensible or practical.
 Example:
 He has his head in the clouds if he thinks he’s going to
get that promotion.

20. every cloud has a silver lining
 -the proverb every cloud has a silver lining means
that something good always comes from something
bad, and there is always a reason to hope, even in the
worst situations.
 People often use this expression to try and cheer
up someone who is having a difficult time.
 Example of use:
 I lost my job last week, but every cloud has a silver
lining and now I have time to visit my family in
Australia!

21. For more examples, please
visit:
 http://online-english-
lessons.eu/wordpress/2012/03/33-weather-idioms-
and-idiomatic-expressions/