Weather Collocations

The weather has an effect on our everyday lives. If it’s raining, you may take an umbrella to work. If it’s sunny and warm, you may wear lighter clothing. Weather impacts so much of our daily life and even the way we speak. In English, there are many different weather collocations (phrases) that are used often in conversation.

To help you find your way among all these different phrases, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite weather collocations that you’re most likely to hear. Read on to learn some new phrases you can use every day… no matter the weather! (If you’re looking for some weather words in Easy English, or some more weather vocabulary in Easy English, check out our blogs!)

To be snowed under

When you’re really busy with work, sometimes it may feel like you’ll never finish everything you have to do. While that’s a very uncomfortable feeling, it does eventually go away and you come back out on top of your work. However, there’s a certain phrase we use for this feeling, which is to be snowed under. Picture it like your work is a lot of very heavy snow coming down on you, or like an avalanche. Work can certainly feel that way sometimes, which is why the phrase to be snowed under is so accurate (true, correct)!

For example:

• I would love to go to the movies with you today, but I’m really snowed under and have to stay at work a bit later.
• He was snowed under at work last week so he is really looking forward to his vacation on Monday.

A sunny personality

Do you know someone who is always in a good mood and always seems to be happy? Then that person has a sunny personality. Just like the sun, people with a sunny personality or disposition bring a lot of light and joy into the lives of the people around them. They may even be said to light up a room that they enter.

Who do you know that has a sunny personality?

For example:

• She has such a sunny personality! She’s always smiling.
• He lights up any room he walks into with his sunny personality.

A flood of tears

When someone is very, very sad, they might start crying so much, that they seem they can’t stop. When this happens, we say that this person is in a flood of tears. When someone is crying this much, the best thing you can do for them is to be there for them. Offer them as much support as you can, and the flood of tears will stop eventually. They’ll appreciate you being there to listen!

For example:

• When she lost her job, she burst out into a flood of tears. But after a while, she stopped and realized that this might be a blessing in disguise.
• I was in a flood of tears when my best friend moved away. We’ve been next door neighbors since we were five years old!

To not have the foggiest idea

A very common weather collocation is to not have the foggiest idea. If you don’t have the foggiest idea, you have absolutely no clue about something. Think of it like having a head full of fog. We’re sure the answer will come to you eventually!

For example:

• Do you know what time the next train comes? I don’t have the foggiest idea but I can check the schedule.
• I don’t have the foggiest idea what happened in that meeting. It was so boring and I couldn’t concentrate!

To feel under the weather

Weather collocations are so common, that there’s even one for when you’re feeling sick. If you’re feeling sick, you can say that you’re feeling under the weather. If you’re under the weather, you may be feeling sick, but not deathly ill. It’s a good phrase to use when you want to let someone know that you’re sick, but not very sick.

For example:

• I’m very sorry, I can’t come in to work today. I’m feeling under the weather.
• She was feeling under the weather last week, but she’s much better now!

Which weather collocations do you use the most? Do you have any favorites that didn’t make the list? Share them with us in the comments below!