The Ultimate English Idiom Challenge: Can You Fill in the Gaps?

They say that Brits are always talking about the weather, although in my experience, most people talk about the weather – whether it be the temperature, the humidity, the cold or how wet or dry it has been.

It is no surprise that the English language has lots of idiomatic expressions that use the weather to convey different meanings. Here you can test your knowledge of seven frequently used English idioms.

Have a go at this test and see if you can guess the meanings. Do you have an equivalent idiom in your mother tongue? Below you will find the answers and an explanation of the meanings.

Choose the word that best completes each sentence:

1. After a good night's sleep and some medicine, I'm feeling as right as _______.

a) snow

b) rain

c) sunshine

d) a foggy day

2. I’d love to join you for dinner, but I’m swamped today. Can I take a _______ check?

a) snow

b) rain

c) wind

d) fog

3. He delivers the mail come rain or _______; nothing stops him!

a) sun

b) storm

c) shine

d) clouds

4. She was on cloud _______ after getting the promotion she had worked so hard for.

a) five

b) seven

c) ten

d) nine

5. I was excited to announce my engagement, but my cousin completely rained on my _______ by revealing her pregnancy at the same dinner.

a) cake

b) party

c) parade

d) wedding

6. They threw caution to the _______ and booked a one-way ticket to Bali without a plan.

a) fog

b) thunder

c) wind

d) storm

7. I had been planning that presentation for weeks, but Jack completely stole my _______ by presenting a similar idea first.

a) sunlight

b) thunder

c) shower

d) storm

Here are the answers with an explanation and some examples. Try to get them into a conversation next time you have the opportunity!

1. b: "To be as right as rain"

Feeling fine and healthy. This is used to describe someone recovering or feeling well. Some linguists claim that the word ‘right’ in this context is used to mean ‘straight’ rather than the opposite of ‘wrong’ or ‘left’. Since rain often falls straight downwards (unless there are high winds), some linguists believe that the meaning originated from there.

Examples:

• After a week of rest and some soup, Grandma was as right as rain again.
• Don’t worry about me—I’ll be as right as rain by tomorrow morning.

2. b: "To take a rain check"

Asking to reschedule or postpone something. This idiom originated in the USA. When it rained heavily and a ball game was cancelled, the ticket-holders were given an alternative ticket called ‘a rain check’ that could be used at a future game.

Examples:

• I’m really tired tonight. Can I take a rain check on that movie?
• She had to work late, so she asked to take a rain check on our dinner plans.

3. C: "Come rain or shine"

Indicates that something will happen no matter what; regardless of conditions. This idiom dates back to 17^th Century England and was coined in a publication by John Goad.

Examples:

• He runs five miles every morning, come rain or shine.
• The outdoor wedding is happening this weekend, come rain or shine.

4. D: "To be on cloud nine"

Feeling extremely happy or elated. There are lots of theories about why it is cloud 9 and not another number. One theory is that it is related to Buddhism and another that it is related to the US weather bureau’s naming of the pretty cumulonimbus type clouds that are considered to be the most attractive. However, neither of these theories are waterproof. The expression became more popular after the 1980s when it was included in the title of an album by the late George Harrison.

Examples:

• She’s been on cloud nine ever since she got accepted into her dream university.
• When he found out he was going to be a dad, he was on cloud nine.

5. C: "To rain on someone’s parade"

To spoil someone’s moment of joy or success. There are records of this expression existing at the beginning of the twentieth century, but became more popular when it was used in songs in the 1960s.

Examples:

• I was so excited about my new car, but my dad rained on my parade by pointing out all its flaws.
• Not to rain on your parade, but that job offer might not be as good as it sounds.

6. C: "Throw caution to the wind"

To take a risk and act recklessly or spontaneously. This idiom originated in Britain at the beginning of the twentieth century, and it could be an adaptation of the saying ‘to the wind’ which meant to be lost. Alternatively, it is an adaptation of ‘to throw to the winds’ which means to do something without any regard for the consequences.

Examples:

• They threw caution to the wind and spent their savings on a spontaneous road trip.
• Sometimes you just have to throw caution to the wind and go for what you really want.

7. B: "To steal someone’s thunder"

To take attention or praise away from someone, often by preempting their big moment. This phrase comes from the writer John Dennis (1658-1734). He invented a thunder machine for a play that he wrote for the theatre. The play was not successful and did not run for very long. However, in a staging of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the theatre company used Dennis’s innovative thunder machine without his permission – they literally stole his thunder!

Examples:

• I was about to announce my engagement, but Sarah stole my thunder by revealing she’s pregnant.
• He didn’t mean to steal your thunder, but his news came as such a surprise.

If you want to read more about idiomatic expressions in English, click on these articles:

• 8 Common Idioms Relevant in Business Today: Practise your Reading Skills
• 8 idioms in English for everyday life inspired by nature with exercises
• 15 frases hechas o “idioms” en inglés para el día a día (por niveles)