Ever feel stuck describing chaos, intense emotions, or impending trouble? Beyond “stormy,” ordinary words often fall short.
This article delves into Idioms About Storms, revealing vivid expressions drawn from weather phenomena.
Learn how these powerful phrases depict everything from arguments to difficult periods. Enhance your vocabulary and confidently navigate complex discussions, adding dramatic flair to your communication.
Best Idioms About Storms
1. Calm before the storm
Meaning: A period of unusual quiet or inactivity before a period of great activity, trouble, or excitement.
In a Sentence:
The quiet in the office felt like the calm before the storm of year-end reports.
Everyone was relaxing, but I sensed it was just the calm before the storm.
Other Ways to Say: Period of quiet, Anticipation, Lull, Pre-crisis tranquility
2. Storm in a teacup
Meaning: A lot of anger and fuss about something unimportant. (British English)
In a Sentence:
Their big argument over the remote control was just a storm in a teacup.
Don’t worry, it’s just a storm in a teacup; they’ll get over it.
Other Ways to Say: Overreaction, Fuss about nothing, Tempest in a teapot, Minor commotion
3. A storm is brewing
Meaning: Trouble or conflict is about to begin.
In a Sentence:
From the tense silence in the room, it was clear a storm was brewing between them.
The economic indicators suggest a storm is brewing for the global market.
Other Ways to Say: Trouble is coming, Conflict is imminent, Difficult
4. Come rain or shine
Meaning: No matter what the weather or circumstances, something will definitely happen.
In a Sentence:
We’ll be there for the concert, come rain or shine.
He always goes for his morning run, come rain or shine.
Other Ways to Say: Regardless of conditions, Without fail, Always, Definitely
5. Weather the storm
Meaning: To endure a difficult period or crisis without being defeated.
In a Sentence:
The company managed to weather the storm of the recession.
They had to work together to weather the storm of family illness.
Other Ways to Say: Endure, Survive a crisis, Overcome difficulties, Persevere through adversity
6. Every cloud has a silver lining
Meaning: Every difficult or unpleasant situation has some potential good or benefit within it.
In a Sentence:
I lost my job, but now I have time to pursue my passion; every cloud has a silver lining.
Even in challenging times, remember that every cloud has a silver lining.
Other Ways to Say: Optimistic outlook, Find good in bad, Positive side
7. On cloud nine
Meaning: Extremely happy; euphoric.
In a Sentence:
She’s been on cloud nine ever since she got engaged.
After winning the championship, the team was on cloud nine.
Other Ways to Say: Ecstatic, Joyful, Delighted, Overjoyed
8. Raining cats and dogs
Meaning: Raining very heavily.
In a Sentence:
Don’t forget your umbrella; it’s raining cats and dogs outside!
We had to cancel the picnic because it was raining cats and dogs.
Other Ways to Say: Pouring rain, Heavy rain, Downpour, Deluge
9. Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling slightly ill or unwell.
In a Sentence:
I’m feeling a bit under the weather today, so I’ll work from home.
She was under the weather and couldn’t attend the party.
Other Ways to Say: Unwell, Sick, Ill, Ailing
10. Break the ice
Meaning: To do or say something to relieve tension or start a conversation in a new social situation.
In a Sentence:
To break the ice at the meeting, we played a quick game.
A good joke can often break the ice with new acquaintances.
Other Ways to Say: Start a conversation, Relieve tension, Initiate interaction, Make comfortable
11. Chase rainbows
Meaning: To pursue an unrealistic or impossible goal or dream.
In a Sentence:
He’s always chasing rainbows, hoping for a magical solution to his problems.
Trying to achieve perfection in everything is like chasing rainbows.
Other Ways to Say: Pursue pipe dreams, Seek the impossible, Have unrealistic goals
12. Eye of the storm
Meaning: A calm, central area of a storm; figuratively, a period of calm or focus in the midst of a chaotic or difficult situation.
In a Sentence:
In the eye of the storm of her busy life, she found a moment of peace.
The CEO had to remain calm and focused, like in the eye of the storm.
Other Ways to Say: Calm center, Midst of chaos, Quiet in turmoil, Focal point
13. Save for a rainy day
Meaning: To save money or resources for future needs or unexpected difficulties.
In a Sentence:
It’s always wise to save for a rainy day, just in case.
I put a little money aside each month to save for a rainy day.
Other Ways to Say: Save for emergencies, Put aside, Build a reserve
14. Snowed under
Meaning: Having too much work to do; overwhelmed with tasks.
In a Sentence:
I’m completely snowed under with assignments this week.
The accounting department is snowed under during tax season.
Other Ways to Say: Overwhelmed, Swamped, Buried in work, Busy
15. Steal my thunder
Meaning: To take attention or credit away from someone else by doing or saying what they were planning to do or say.
In a Sentence:
He announced my promotion before I could, completely stealing my thunder.
Don’t steal my thunder; I want to share the good news myself!
Other Ways to Say: Usurp credit, Upstage, Take the spotlight, Undermine
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Darkness to Illuminate the Gloom
16. Storm out
Meaning: To leave a place angrily.
In a Sentence:
She got upset and stormed out of the meeting.
He slammed the door and stormed out of the house.
Other Ways to Say: Leave angrily, Stride out, Fume out, Exit in a rage
17. Up a storm
Meaning: To do something with great energy, intensity, or enthusiasm.
In a Sentence:
She was cooking up a storm in the kitchen for the party.
The band played up a storm, and the crowd loved it.
Other Ways to Say: Vigorously, Enthusiastically, With great energy, Intensely
18. Get wind of
Meaning: To hear a rumor or secret information about something.
In a Sentence:
The police got wind of the plan before it could be carried out.
If the boss gets wind of our complaints, there could be trouble.
Other Ways to Say: Hear a rumor, Learn of, Discover, Find out
19. Is a breeze
Meaning: Very easy to do.
In a Sentence:
With the new software, creating presentations is a breeze.
The exam was a breeze after all the studying I did.
Other Ways to Say: Easy, Simple, Effortless, A cinch
20. Perfect storm
Meaning: A particularly bad situation caused by a rare combination of unfavorable circumstances.
In a Sentence:
The recession, combined with rising interest rates, created a perfect storm for many small businesses.
All the negative factors came together to create a perfect storm of problems.
Other Ways to Say: Worst-case scenario, Ideal negative conditions, Confluence of disasters
21. Take a rain check
Meaning: To decline an offer or invitation now but suggest accepting it at a later time.
In a Sentence:
I can’t make it to dinner tonight, but can I take a rain check?
He offered to help, but I told him I’d take a rain check.
Other Ways to Say: Postpone, Reschedule, Defer, Decline for now
22. Face like thunder
Meaning: Looking very angry or upset.
In a Sentence:
When he heard the news, his face was like thunder.
The coach walked into the locker room with a face like thunder.
Other Ways to Say: Frowning angrily, Scowling, Furious expression, Glaring
23. Fairweather friend
Meaning: A person who is a friend only when things are easy or convenient, but abandons you in times of difficulty.
In a Sentence:
When I lost my job, I found out who my fairweather friends were.
He’s a fairweather friend; you can’t rely on him when things get tough.
Other Ways to Say: Opportunistic friend, Unreliable friend, Selfish friend, Untrustworthy companion
24. Head in the clouds
Meaning: Dreaming or fantasizing; having impractical or unrealistic ideas.
In a Sentence:
He always has his head in the clouds, thinking about his next big invention.
Stop having your head in the clouds and focus on your homework!
Other Ways to Say: Daydreaming, Unrealistic, Idealistic, Distracted
25. Bolt from the blue
Meaning: A sudden, unexpected, and often shocking event.
In a Sentence:
Her resignation came as a complete bolt from the blue.
The news of the inheritance was a bolt from the blue.
Other Ways to Say: Out of nowhere, Sudden shock, Unexpected event, Surprise
26. Tempest in a teapot
Meaning: A lot of anger and fuss about something unimportant. (American English, same as ‘storm in a teacup’).
In a Sentence:
Their big debate over the new office chairs was just a tempest in a teapot.
It’s just a tempest in a teapot; the issue isn’t that serious.
Other Ways to Say: Overreaction, Fuss about nothing, Minor commotion, Storm in a teacup
27. Ride out the storm
Meaning: To survive a period of difficulty or trouble. (Similar to ‘weather the storm’).
In a Sentence:
We just need to ride out the storm until the economy recovers.
They decided to stay home and ride out the storm rather than evacuate.
Other Ways to Say: Endure, Survive, Persevere, Get through
28. Cloud of suspicion
Meaning: A situation where someone is suspected of wrongdoing, but there is no definitive proof.
In a Sentence:
The scandal left a cloud of suspicion hanging over the entire organization.
He lived under a cloud of suspicion for years after the incident.
Other Ways to Say: Suspicion, Distrust, Doubt, Accusation without proof
29. Thunderbolt
Meaning: A sudden, surprising, and often unwelcome piece of news or event. (Similar to ‘bolt from the blue’).
In a Sentence:
The news of the factory closure was a thunderbolt to the small town.
His unexpected announcement was a thunderbolt for everyone involved.
Other Ways to Say: Shocking news, Sudden blow, Unexpected event, Surprise
30. Blow up a storm
Meaning: To make a lot of noise or fuss, often in anger or protest. (Less common, often ‘kick up a storm’ or ‘cook up a storm’).
In a Sentence:
The protesters really blew up a storm outside the city hall.
(More common: She kicked up a storm when she learned about the deception).
Other Ways to Say: Make a fuss, Protest loudly, Create a disturbance
31. In a whirlwind
Meaning: Happening very quickly and often confusingly; a very busy or exciting period.
In a Sentence:
The whole week passed in a whirlwind of meetings and events.
After winning the award, her life became a whirlwind of interviews.
Other Ways to Say: Hectic, Fast-paced, Frenetic, Chaotic
32. Like a hurricane
Meaning: With great force, speed, or destructive power.
In a Sentence:
The news spread through the office like a hurricane.
He burst into the room like a hurricane, full of energy.
Other Ways to Say: Forcefully, Rapidly, Destructively, Violently
33. Storm on the horizon
Meaning: A serious problem or difficulty that is likely to happen soon. (Similar to ‘a storm is brewing’).
In a Sentence:
With rising inflation, there’s a storm on the horizon for the economy.
I see a storm on the horizon if we don’t address these issues now.
Other Ways to Say: Impending trouble, Looming crisis, Approaching difficulty, Warning signs
34. Rain on your parade
Meaning: To spoil someone’s pleasure or plans.
In a Sentence:
I hate to rain on your parade, but your flight has been delayed.
Don’t let anyone rain on your parade; enjoy your success!
Other Ways to Say: Spoil plans, Dampen enthusiasm, Ruin fun, Disappoint
35. Caught in a whirlwind
Meaning: Overwhelmed or swept up by rapidly changing or chaotic events.
In a Sentence:
After the unexpected success, she found herself caught in a whirlwind of media attention.
He was caught in a whirlwind of emotions after the breakup.
Other Ways to Say: Overwhelmed, Swept up, Caught up, Engulfed
Related Post: 50 Idioms about the Sun Daily Wisdom and Light
36. Thunder in your heart
Meaning: A strong feeling of excitement, emotion, or fear.
In a Sentence:
As she walked onto the stage, she felt a thunder in her heart.
The announcement created a thunder in everyone’s hearts.
Other Ways to Say: Pounding heart, Intense emotion, Strong feeling, Trembling with emotion
37. Cloudy with a chance
Meaning: A humorous or ironic way to suggest that something is uncertain or has a possibility of happening, often sarcastically.
In a Sentence:
His proposal was met with enthusiasm, but it was cloudy with a chance of budget cuts.
I asked if I’d get a raise, and he said it was cloudy with a chance of me winning the lottery.
Other Ways to Say: Uncertain, Possible, Doubtful outcome, Unsure prospects
38. Batten down the hatches
Meaning: To prepare for a difficult or dangerous situation; to get ready for trouble.
In a Sentence:
The economy is looking shaky, so it’s time to batten down the hatches.
We need to batten down the hatches before the audit begins.
Other Ways to Say: Prepare for difficulty, Brace for impact, Get ready for trouble, Prepare for crisis
39. Storm the gates
Meaning: To attack a place or system forcefully and directly, often in protest or to gain entry.
In a Sentence:
The protesters threatened to storm the gates of the parliament building.
The startup aimed to storm the gates of the established industry.
Other Ways to Say: Attack, Assault, Invade, Force entry
40. Whirlwind romance
Meaning: A very rapid and passionate romantic relationship.
In a Sentence:
They had a whirlwind romance and were engaged within a month.
Their whirlwind romance took everyone by surprise.
Other Ways to Say: Rapid courtship, Intense love affair, Speedy relationship
41. Blow away the cobwebs
Meaning: To clear one’s mind or body, often by doing something invigorating or going outside.
In a Sentence:
A brisk walk in the park will blow away the cobwebs.
Let’s go for a run to blow away the cobwebs before the workday starts.
Other Ways to Say: Clear the mind, Refresh, Reinvigorate, Shake off lethargy
42. Dark clouds looming
Meaning: Signs of trouble or difficulty appearing on the horizon. (Similar to ‘storm on the horizon’).
In a Sentence:
With rising inflation and energy prices, dark clouds are looming over the economy.
I see dark clouds looming for their relationship if they don’t communicate.
Other Ways to Say: Impending trouble, Approaching crisis, Warning signs, Foreboding
43. Weather-beaten
Meaning: Damaged or worn by exposure to the weather; often used for people with a tough, outdoor appearance.
In a Sentence:
The old fishing boat looked weather-beaten but still seaworthy.
His face was weather-beaten from years of working outdoors.
Other Ways to Say: Worn, Eroded, Distressed (by weather), Rugged
44. Rain or shine
Meaning: Regardless of the weather, emphasizing certainty. (Same as ‘come rain or shine’).
In a Sentence:
The festival will go ahead, rain or shine.
He shows up for work every day, rain or shine.
Other Ways to Say: Always, Without fail, Definitely, Regardless of conditions
45. Cloud over
Meaning: For someone’s face or mood to become sad or troubled; for the sky to become cloudy.
In a Sentence:
Her face clouded over when he mentioned the bad news.
The sky began to cloud over, hinting at rain.
Other Ways to Say: Become sad, Become troubled, Darken (mood/sky), Gloom
46. In the eye of the hurricane
Meaning: In a deceptively calm place in the midst of a very chaotic or dangerous situation. (Stronger than ‘eye of the storm’).
In a Sentence:
During the crisis, the leadership team felt they were in the eye of the hurricane.
It’s surprisingly peaceful in the eye of the hurricane, despite the surrounding chaos.
Other Ways to Say: Calm amidst chaos, Center of turmoil, Serene in danger
47. Stormy waters
Meaning: A difficult or turbulent period or situation.
In a Sentence:
The company is navigating stormy waters due to intense competition.
Their relationship hit stormy waters after the argument.
Other Ways to Say: Trouble, Difficulty, Crisis, Turmoil
48. Lightning never strikes twice
Meaning: An extremely rare event is unlikely to happen again to the same person or in the same way.
In a Sentence:
You won the lottery once, but lightning never strikes twice, so don’t expect to win again.
He barely survived that accident; hopefully, lightning never strikes twice.
Other Ways to Say: Unlikely to recur, Highly improbable repetition, One-off event
49. Cast a cloud
Meaning: To cause a feeling of sadness, gloom, or suspicion.
In a Sentence:
The unexpected news cast a cloud over the entire celebration.
The accusations cast a cloud over his reputation.
Other Ways to Say: Bring gloom, Cause sadness, Create suspicion, Darken
50. Kick up a storm
Meaning: To cause a lot of trouble, excitement, or fuss; to complain loudly and vigorously.
In a Sentence:
The angry customers kicked up a storm when they found out about the price increase.
He’s known for kicking up a storm whenever he doesn’t get his way.
Other Ways to Say: Cause a commotion, Protest loudly, Make a fuss, Create a stir
Exercise to Practice – Idioms About Storms
- The sudden, unexpected news of their engagement came like a _________________________ to everyone.
- After the intense debate, the quiet resolution felt like the _________________________ before a new era of cooperation.
- Their argument over who would do the dishes was just a _________________________; it really wasn’t a big deal.
- The CEO remained calm and decisive, even when the company was in the _________________________ of the financial crisis.
- She’s been feeling a bit _________________________ lately, so she decided to take a day off work.
- The team decided to _________________________ the economic downturn by cutting costs and preserving resources.
- Don’t let his negative comments _________________________; you worked hard for this achievement!
- It’s wise to _________________________ a portion of your income for unexpected expenses.
- She cooked _________________________ for the party, preparing a feast for all the guests.
- The sudden drop in stock prices created a _________________________ of negative factors, leading to market panic.
Answer Key
- bolt from the blue (or thunderbolt)
- calm before the storm
- storm in a teacup (or tempest in a teapot)
- eye of the storm (or in the eye of the hurricane)
- under the weather
- weather the storm (or ride out the storm)
- rain on your parade
- save for a rainy day
- up a storm
- perfect storm
Conclusion
So, no need to feel lost in a linguistic tempest! With these Idioms About Storms, you’re now equipped to powerfully describe any turbulent situation or intense emotion. Confidently weather communication challenges and add dramatic depth to your language by integrating these expressions today!
Danny Weber is a language enthusiast and freelance writer with a passion for unpacking the beauty of idioms and metaphors. Through years of research and creative exploration, Danny helps readers understand the deeper meanings behind familiar phrases—making figurative language feel accessible, engaging, and alive. Whether he’s decoding classic sayings or crafting new twists on old expressions, Danny’s work invites you to see language with fresh eyes.
