Language is a fascinating aspect of human culture, often reflecting our experiences and observations of the world around us. Idioms, in particular, provide unique insights into the way we perceive and interpret various aspects of life. Among the many idiomatic expressions we use, those related to geography and weather hold a special place. They vividly capture our connection to the natural world and how we incorporate its elements into our everyday language.
Under the weather: When someone says they are feeling “under the weather,” it means they are not feeling well or are slightly unwell. This phrase originated from the association between bad weather and poor health, as people tend to feel physically affected during gloomy or stormy conditions.
| S.No. | Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (on) cloud nine | extremely happy | Andrea was on cloud nine when she bought her new car. |
| 2 | dig deep | look hard for information | I had to dig deep to find my old report cards. |
| 3 | dirt cheap | very inexpensive | The clothes at the thrift shop are dirt cheap. |
| 4 | down to earth | natural or real (personality) | Lucile is really down to earth for a woman with so much money. |
| 5 | fair-weather friend | a person who is only a friend in good times | I can’t talk to Nancy about my boyfriend problems. She’s only a fair-weather friend. |
| 6 | a field day | a very enjoyable time | The kids had a field day at the water slide park. |
| 7 | go downhill | get progressively worse | My grades started going downhill when I got a part-time job. |
| 8 | go with the flow | continue in the same way as others | Nobody trained me at work. I just went with the flow. |
| 9 | hit the hay | go to sleep | I’m exhausted. I think I’ll hit the hay early tonight. |
| 10 | hit the road | leave | It’s getting late. We had better hit the road. |
| 11 | keep one’s head above water | have just enough money to live | It’s hard to keep my head above water with all of these medical bills. |
| 12 | know which way the wind blows | know how things will turn out | Who knows which way the wind will blow? I just hope Jesse gets one of the jobs he’s applied for. |
| 13 | make a mountain out of a molehill | make a small problem seem big | The car only got a tiny dent. You’re making a mountain out of a molehill. |
| 14 | out of the woods | clear of danger | The doctor said my heart is doing better, but I’m not out of the woods yet. |
| 15 | over the hill | past middle age | I knew I was over the hill when I started needing glasses to read. |
| 16 | rain on someone else’s parade | ruin somebody else’s happiness | Whenever I had a dance recital, my older brother always rained on my parade. |
| 17 | stick-in-the- mud | a loner or person who won’t join in | They didn’t bother inviting Charles to the party because he’s always a stick-in-the-mud. |
| 18 | (as) quick as lightning | very fast | Wow! Your shower was as quick as lightning. |
| 19 | the tip of the iceberg | a small part of a large problem | The lost tickets were just the tip of the iceberg. |
| 20 | take a raincheck | accept at a later date | I’d love to go out for dinner, but can I take a raincheck? |
| 21 | under the weather | ill | I was feeling under the weather so I went back to bed. |
| 22 | up the creek | in trouble | If my Dad finds out I had a party I’ll be up the creek. |
| 23 | win by a landslide | win by a lot of points | The skiier in the green coat won by a landslide. |
| 24 | (get) wind of something | overhear something about someone or something (often gossip) | My Dad has a new girlfriend. I got wind of it over dinner tonight. |
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