Rain or shine | 5 English idioms about weather

Weather affects more than just the forecast. It shapes the way we talk, too. English has plenty of expressions inspired by rain, storms, and sunshine, and we use them all the time. Let's take a look at some common weather-related idioms.

Feeling "under the weather"

If you're under the weather, it means you're feeling sick or unwell. People use this phrase when they have a cold, the flu, or just feel off.

You might hear it used like this:

"He missed the meeting because he was under the weather."

"Molly played the game even though she was under the weather."

"I'm feeling a bit under the weather today — I think I need some rest."

A storm in a teacup

This phrase describes a small problem that gets blown out of proportion. It's used when people make a big deal out of something that isn't actually important.

Let's put it into context:

"Their argument was just a storm in a teacup — it was over in five minutes."

"The media turned the minor issue into a storm in a teacup."

"Don't stress about it. It's just a storm in a teacup!"

Take a "rain check"

When you take a rain check, you're postponing plans but intend to do them later. This phrase originally came from baseball, where tickets could be reused if a game was rained out.

This is what it looks like in a sentence:

"I'm busy today — can we take a rain check on lunch?"

"She had to take a rain check on dinner because she wasn't feeling well."

"It's pouring outside. Let's take a rain check on our picnic and go another day."

Break the ice

Starting a conversation in an unfamiliar or awkward situation can feel difficult, but breaking the ice makes it easier. This phrase refers to doing or saying something — like a joke or a friendly question — to help people feel more comfortable.

For example:

"He told a funny story to break the ice at the start of his presentation."

"I always bring up food to break the ice. It's something everyone loves to talk about."

"She asked about my weekend to break the ice during our first conversation."

Calm before the storm

This phrase describes a quiet or peaceful moment before things get hectic or difficult. It's often used when you know a busy or stressful situation is coming soon.

For instance:

"Everything feels peaceful now, but I know it's just the calm before the storm."

"Enjoy the weekend; it's the calm before the storm of next week's deadlines."

"We enjoyed the calm before the storm, knowing the wedding day would be hectic."

Just like the weather, conversations in English can be unpredictable. Hopefully, these idioms will help you keep up when the topic changes as quickly as the forecast (see what we did there?).

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