Idiom Families
The Big Idea
MOODS AND EVENTS ARE WEATHER - illness is bad weather, rare events are blue moons, disappointment is rain on parades
Weather & Nature
The sky writes English idioms: under the weather (sailors sent below deck in storms), take a rain check (baseball tickets honored after rainouts), the calm before the storm, once in a blue moon. Weather is the mood of the world - and of the speaker.
Fuku's Note
Weather small talk and weather idioms reinforce each other - master both and the sky becomes your most reliable conversation partner in America.
Ryu's Tip
'Rain check' comes from baseball: rained-out game, keep your ticket stub, come back free. Baseball and weather - two domains, one idiom.
Idioms in this family
once in a blue moon
Very rarely; almost never
rain on someone's parade
To spoil someone's happy moment or plans, often by delivering unwelcome facts
take a rain check
To politely decline an invitation while promising to accept it later
the calm before the storm
A quiet period just before a time of great activity or trouble
under the weather
Slightly ill; not feeling well