A.

Match each picture with one of the phrases below and put the correct number on
each picture.

1. A cold day in July 6. Every cloud has a silver lining 11. Raining cats and dogs
2. A storm in a tea cup 7. Have the head in the clouds 12. Save up for a rainy day
3. Brainstorm 8. On cloud nine 13. Snowed under with work
4. Break the ice 9. Once in a blue moon 14. The calm before the storm
5. Come rain or shine 10. On thin ice 15. Under the weather
 B. Now match the idioms (1-15) with their definitions (a-o).

1. A cold day in July a) A lot of trouble about something unimportant

2. A storm in a teacup
3. Brainstorm
4. Break the ice
5. Come rain or shine
6. Every cloud has a silver lining
7. Have the head in the clouds
8. On cloud nine
9. Once in a blue moon
10. On thin ice
11. Raining cats and dogs
12. Save up for a rainy day
13. Snowed under with work
14. The calm before the storm
15. Under the weather
b) A quiet time just before problems start
c) At risk of upsetting or annoying someone
d) Every bad situation has a good aspect to it.
e) Extremely busy with work
f) Generate many ideas quickly
g) Get the conversation started; make people feel relaxed and
willing to talk to each other
h) Have unrealistic ideas
i) Put some money aside for whenever it may be needed
j) Raining heavily
k) Something that will never happen
l) Unwell or ill
m) Very happy
n) Very rarely
o) Whatever happens

C. Complete the sentences with the correct weather idiom from exercise B.
1. Alex goes jogging every single morning, …………………………………………………….
2. Don't forget to take your umbrella - it's …………………………………………………… out there.
3. He's skating …………………………………………………… by lying to the police.
4. I’m feeling a bit ……………………………………………………, so I won’t get out tonight.
5. It will be …………………………………………………… when they win the national championship.
6. Michael thinks the company will pay for all of the expenses of his round-the-world trip. He must
……………………………………………………—they would never do that!
7. Mum is absolutely …………………………………………………… at the moment.
8. My sister lives in Canada, so I only see her …………………………………………………….
9. Once you have the basic home comforts, it’s important to …………………………………………………….
10. The concert has been cancelled, but …………………………………………………… : I can join you on the trip instead.
11. The fight that Helen and Sandra had wasn’t anything serious, just …………………………………………………….
12. The teacher told a few jokes at the beginning of the class to …………………………………………………….
13. The team got together to …………………………………………………… ideas.
14. Things seem quiet in the office right now, but this is just …………………………………………………….
15. "Was Helen pleased about getting that job?" "Pleased? She was ……………………………………………………!"
 A. Match each picture with one of the phrases below and put the correct number on
each picture.

12 9 8 4 15

14 2 11 7 13

6 5 1 10 3

1. A cold day in July 6. Every cloud has a silver lining 11. Raining cats and dogs
2. A storm in a teacup 7. Have the head in the clouds 12. Save up for a rainy day
3. Brainstorm 8. On cloud nine 13. Snowed under with work
4. Break the ice 9. Once in a blue moon 14. The calm before the storm
5. Come rain or shine 10. On thin ice 15. Under the weather
 B. Now match the idioms (1-15) with their definitions (a-o).

1. k) A cold day in July = Something that will never happen

2. a) A storm in a teacup = A lot of trouble about something unimportant
3. f) Brainstorm = Generate many ideas quickly
4. g) Break the ice = Get the conversation started; make people feel relaxed and willing to
talk to each other
5. o) Come rain or shine = Whatever happens
6. d) Every cloud has a silver lining = Every bad situation has a good aspect to it.
7. h) Have the head in the clouds = Have unrealistic ideas
8. m) On cloud nine = Very happy
9. n) Once in a blue moon = Very rarely
10. c) On thin ice = At risk of upsetting or annoying someone
11. j) Raining cats and dogs = Raining heavily
12. i) Save up for a rainy day = Put some money aside for whenever it may be needed
13. e) Snowed under with work = Extremely busy with work
14. b) The calm before the storm = A quiet time just before problems start
15. l) Under the weather = Unwell or ill

C. Complete the sentences with the correct weather idiom from exercise B.
1. Alex goes jogging every single morning, come rain or shine.
2. Don't forget to take your umbrella - it's raining cats and dogs out there.
3. He's skating on thin ice by lying to the police.
4. I’m feeling a bit under the weather, so I won’t get out tonight.
5. It will be a cold day in July when they win the national championship.
6. Michael thinks the company will pay for all of the expenses of his round-the-world trip. He must
have the head in the clouds —they would never do that!
7. Mum is absolutely snowed under with work at the moment.
8. My sister lives in Canada, so I only see her once in a blue moon.
9. Once you have the basic home comforts, it’s important to save up for a rainy day.
10. The concert has been cancelled, but every cloud has a silver lining : I can join you on the trip instead.
11. The fight that Helen and Sandra had wasn’t anything serious, just a storm in a teacup.
12. The teacher told a few jokes at the beginning of the class to break the ice.
13. The team got together to brainstorm ideas.
14. Things seem quiet in the office right now, but this is just the calm before the storm.
15. "Was Helen pleased about getting that job?" "Pleased? She was on cloud nine!"