English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
WEATHER and ATMOSPHERE, page 1
Idioms
from:
'bolt from the blue' to: 'take a rain check'
- (a) bolt from the blue
- To refer to something as a
bolt from the blue means
that it happened totally unexpectedly.
"The chairman's resignation came as a bolt from the blue."
- To refer to something as a
bolt from the blue means
that it happened totally unexpectedly.
- cloud cuckoo land
- This expression refers to an imaginary unrealistic place
where everything is perfect and impossible things can happen.
"Anyone who thinks these measures are going to solve the crisis is living in cloud-cuckoo-land!"
- This expression refers to an imaginary unrealistic place
where everything is perfect and impossible things can happen.
- on cloud nine
- A person who is on cloud nine is very happy
because something wonderful has happened.
"When the boss announced my promotion, I was on cloud nine."
- A person who is on cloud nine is very happy
because something wonderful has happened.
- (a) cloud on the horizon
- A problem or difficulty that is predictable, or seems
likely to arise in the future, is called a
cloud on the horizon.
"They are happily married and for the moment there appear to be no clouds on the horizon."
- A problem or difficulty that is predictable, or seems
likely to arise in the future, is called a
cloud on the horizon.
- come rain or shine
- If you do something come rain or shine, you do it whatever happens,
no matter what the weather or other circumstances may be.
"My parents go walking every morning, come rain or shine."
- If you do something come rain or shine, you do it whatever happens,
no matter what the weather or other circumstances may be.
- (keep) in the dark
- If someone is kept or left in the
dark about something, they are not informed about it.
"The personnel was kept in the dark about the merger until the last minute."
- If someone is kept or left in the
dark about something, they are not informed about it.
- (a) 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."
- 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.
- freeze someone out
- If you deliberately isolate someone or prevent them from participating in
a social or business activity by treating them unfairly or harshly, you freeze them out.
"Pablo was treated unfairly. He was frozen out of the project by the rest of the team."
- If you deliberately isolate someone or prevent them from participating in
a social or business activity by treating them unfairly or harshly, you freeze them out.
- (the) heavens open
- When the heavens open,
it suddenly starts to rain heavily.
"As soon as the race started, the heavens opened and the runners were soaked."
- When the heavens open,
it suddenly starts to rain heavily.
- heat is on
- To say that the heat is on means that you are under a
lot of pressure to get something done, usually within a time limit.
"The project must be ready for next Friday, so the heat is on."
- To say that the heat is on means that you are under a
lot of pressure to get something done, usually within a time limit.
- turn on/up the heat
- If you turn on/up the heat on a person or
organisation, you put pressure on them in order to obtain what you want.
"If the goods are not delivered this week, we'll have to turn on the heat."
- If you turn on/up the heat on a person or
organisation, you put pressure on them in order to obtain what you want.
- once in a blue moon
- If something occurs once in a blue moon,
it happens very rarely.
"Bill has very little contact with his brother. They see each other once in a blue moon."
- If something occurs once in a blue moon,
it happens very rarely.
- reach for the moon
- If you reach for the moon, you are
very ambitious and try to achieve something even if it is difficult.
"His parents were hardworking people who encouraged their children to reach for the moon."
- If you reach for the moon, you are
very ambitious and try to achieve something even if it is difficult.
- 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."
- If a person does something come rain or shine,
they do it regularly, whatever the circumstances.
- (as) right as rain
- If someone is (as) right as rain, they are in
excellent health or condition.
"I called to see my grandmother thinking she was ill, but she was as right as rain."
- If someone is (as) right as rain, they are in
excellent health or condition.
- 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!"
- 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.
- take a rain check (on something)
- To say that you take a rain check on something
means that you cannot accept an invitation or offer now, but you will be
happy to accept it later.
"Do you mind if I take a rain check on that lunch invitation? I'm going to be away all week."
- To say that you take a rain check on something
means that you cannot accept an invitation or offer now, but you will be
happy to accept it later.
Alphabetical lists: