WEATHER
a fair-weather friend = (not fml) a person whose friendship cannot always be
trusted and who is only friendly when things are going well for one.
keep a/one's weather eye open = to keep a steady and careful watch for
someone or something, esp. so that one may be prepared in case of trouble
e.g. Keep a weather eye open for any small faults with your car- if they're not repaired
immediately they could cost you a lot of money later.
make heavy weather of (or out of) = (not fml) to make more effort than
is necessary in oneself in (doing sth.) or make unnecessary problems for oneself in doing (a
job, activity, etc.)
e.g. ... the play... makes somewhat heavy weather out of establishing any overall point.
[Note: Originally referring to how well a ship could be handled in a storm at sea. a ship is said to
make heavy weather if it rolls about a great deal and needs to be controlled with much effort]
under the weather = (not fml) unwell or not cheerful
e.g. ‘I didn't feel under the weather at all, nor did I have a hangover.’
e.g. I had a bad cold and I'm still a bit under the weather.
weather the storm = to deal successfully with or escape unharmed from a
situation
e.g. Next year will more difficult for small business than last year, and we will have to work
even harder to weather the storm.
e.g. ‘If you give us your full backing over the difficult two or three years ahead we shall
weather the storm.. .'
any port in a storm = (coll) in times of difficulty any way out or offer of help is
welcome (often used to explain why a person in trouble has gone for help to a person or
place that he usually tries to avoid)
bring a storm about one's / someone's ears = (fml) to cause
much anger or opposition to arise because of what one / someone has said or done
e.g. The politician's speech attacking the government’s plans for industry has brought a storm
about his ears.
ride the storm / whirlwind = to control or deal with a situation of great
disorder or violence.
e.g. The government thought that it would be safe to introduce new taxes, but it was not
strong enough to ride the whirlwind of opposition.
a storm in a teacup = an unnecessary amount of excitement or argument about
an unimportant matter.
e.g. Foreign Secretary Geoffny Rippon said he was astonished by the angry reaction to his call
for a force of citizen volunteers. . . he insisted that the row was a storm in a teacup.
take by storm = (not fml) to make a great impression upon
e.g. The group of young musicians took America by storm.
[Note: This phrase originally meant to seize a castle, military position, etc., by a sudden and
violent attack]
every cloud has a silver lining = something good will always come from a
difficult or unpleasant moment, situation, etc.
on cloud nine = (sl) ver happy
e.g. I was on cloud nine after I learned that had just passed the examination.
[The phrase originally appeared in the form on cloud seven, and is perhaps connected with the
seventh heaven.]
under a cloud = (not fml) under suspicion; not in favour
e.g. Though the police could not prove the man's guilt, he remained under a cloud for several
weeks.
e.g. He used to work for this company but caused some trouble and left under a cloud.
have one's head in the clouds = (coll) to be dreamy, esp. instead of
paying attention to what is happening; have one’s thoughts on other things
e.g. I can’t trust my typist with any important papers - she has her head in the clouds most of
the time.
get wind of = to learn or receive information about (sth) indirectly or secretly.
e.g. He got wind of my plan to travel north and asked if he could come with me.
hang in the wind / in the balance = (of an event, person’s future)
in an undecided or uncertain state, esp. on e between two opposite possibilities.
e.g. While war hung in the balance he had declared himself against it.
(less common: hang in the wind)
in the wind = (not fml) being planned, prepared, or considered, esp. secretly.
e.g. He wouldn't tell me what he was planning to do, but there was something in the wind.
it's an ill wind that blows nobody (any) good = in every
misfortune there is something that is of advantage to someone; someone profits by every
loss or misfortune.
piss against / into the wind = (taboo sl) to put effort into doing something
that is unlikely to be successful, esp. because it is in opposition to a general tendency
e.g. Petrol is costing more, and yet more and more cars are on the road - it's pissing against the
wind.
put the wind up = (coll) a- to cause (someone) to feel fear or worry.
e.g. He came over after a bit and said: `Captain Grimes, I think?' That rather put the wind up
me.
e.g. The H-bomb did not reduce the whole world to the rubble of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: on
the contrary, it put the wind up the human race about using such toys.
b- get / have the wind up = to become/be afraid.
e.g. There'll be a shake-up coming soon, and when the upper-classes get the wind up, their first
idea is to cut down on the girls.
raise the wind = (old fash, not fml) to obtain money for something [Perhaps from
sailing, referring to a wind which is needed to make a sailing ship move]
sail close to the wind = (not fm1) to come very close to offending or
breaking the law, moral principle, or social rule.
e.g. The politician sailed rather close to the wind in his speech against the government.
(less common: sail near (to) the wind)
see (or find out) how (or which way) the wind blows = (coll)
to see or find out what the situation is or what other people are thinking or doing and what
is likely to happen, esp. before doing something oneself.
e.g. He needed to see which way the wind was blowing before he told them his plans.
(sow the wind and) reap the whirlwind = (old fash) to do something
wrong or violent the results of which are even worse, esp. for the person who took the
action.
e.g. If the IRA believe their cause is helped by massacres they are deluding themselves. They
have plunged into a bloodbath of which they will be the ultimate victims. They have sown the
wind and they shall reap the whirlwind.
take the wind out of someone's sails = to put a sudden end to
someone's pride or belief in his own abilities, power, etc
e.g. He had often told us what a good tennis player he was, but he had the wind taken out of
his sails when our son beat him in their first match.
three sheets in / to the wind (coll) = drunk
e.g. He laughed loudly, and when I looked at him more closely I saw that he was three sheets in
the wind.
throw / fling / hurl to the wind(s) = to disregard (one's fear, sensible
judgment, etc.) and do something daring or dangerous.
e.g. He knew the police were searching for him, but he threw fear to the winds and came out of
hiding.