rainy

a rainy day

A time or period of unforeseen difficulty, trouble, or need. I know you want to buy a new TV with your bonus, but you should really save that money for a rainy day. I put aside a portion of my wages each month for a rainy day. If you don't have an emergency savings account, how will you cope with the inevitable rainy day?

See also: rainy

hold (something) back for a rainy day

To reserve something, especially money, for use in a time or period of unforeseen difficulty, trouble, or need. I know you want to buy a new TV with your bonus, but you should really hold that money back for a rainy day. I hold a portion of my wages back each month for a rainy day. You will inevitably be faced with unforeseen emergencies in life, that's why you have to hold some money back for a rainy day.

See also: back, for, hold, rainy

keep (something) for a rainy day

To reserve something, especially money, for use in a time or period of unforeseen difficulty, trouble, or need. I know you want to buy a new TV with your Christmas bonus, but you should really keep it for a rainy day. I keep a portion of my wages in a savings account each month for a rainy day.

See also: for, keep, rainy

put (something) aside for a rainy day

To reserve something, especially money, for use in a time or period of unforeseen difficulty, trouble, or need. I know you want to buy a new TV with your bonus, but you should really put that money aside for a rainy day. I put a portion of my wages aside each month for a rainy day.

See also: aside, for, put, rainy

rainy day fund

Money reserved for use in a moment or period of unforeseen difficulty, trouble, or need. I know you want to buy a new TV with your bonus, but you should really keep that money in a rainy day fund. You'll be glad it's there if you ever need it! Thank goodness I had been putting a portion of my wages into my rainy day fund each month. There's no way I could have paid for that emergency surgery otherwise.

See also: fund, rainy

save (something) for a rainy day

To reserve something, especially money, for use in a time or period of unforeseen difficulty, trouble, or need. I know you want to buy a new TV with your bonus, but you should really save that money for a rainy day. I save a portion of my wages each month for a rainy day.

See also: for, rainy, save

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

save (something) for a rainy day

 and put something aside for a rainy day; hold something back for a rainy day; keep something for a rainy day

Fig. to reserve something--usually money--for some future need. I've saved a little money for a rainy day. Keep some extra allowance for a rainy day.

See also: for, rainy, save

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

rainy day, a

A time of need or trouble, as in We knew a rainy day would come sooner or later. This idiom is often used in the context of save for a rainy day, which means to put something aside for a future time of need. [Late 1500s]

See also: rainy

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

save (something) for a rainy day

If you save for a rainy day or save money for a rainy day, you save some of your money in case there are emergencies or problems in the future. Saving for a rainy day and paying off debts is now a top priority for families. Job loss fears are forcing millions of consumers to save for a rainy day rather than borrow. Note: Verbs such as keep, put by and set aside are sometimes used instead of save. These people spent the money when they had it. They did not put it by for a rainy day!

See also: for, rainy, save

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

a rainy day

a possible time of need, usually financial need, in the future.

The expression may originate from the days when casual farm labourers needed to save a proportion of their wages ‘for a rainy day’, i.e. for occasions when bad weather might prevent them from working and earning money.

2002 New York Times Book Review The Russian walked out of K.G.B. headquarters with ‘insurance against a rainy day’—the K.G.B.'s file on its secret mole inside the F.B.I.

See also: rainy

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

save, keep, etc. it for a ˌrainy ˈday

(informal) save money or things for a time in the future when you might need them: ‘Don’t spend it all at once,’ his aunt said. ‘Save some of it for a rainy day.’

See also: for, rainy

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

save for a rainy day, to

To put something aside for a future time of need. To keep something for future use is a very old concept indeed; to call hard times a “rainy day” dates from the sixteenth century. Nicholas Breton used it in 1582 (Works): “Wise men say keepe somewhat till a rainy day.” Alternative locutions include to lay up for a rainy day (John Clarke, 1639), laying by against a rainy day (Samuel Pepys, 1666), and putting something by for a rainy day. Ring Lardner (Anniversary, 1926) used it ironically: “Louis was saving for a rainy day, and his wife had long ago given up praying for rain.” See also salt away.

See also: for, rainy, save, to

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer

save for a rainy day

Provide contingency funds for when times are tough. There's no clear answer to when this expression began (some have traced it back to the 16th century), but it's clear that a “rainy day” is the symbol of gloom. The wise course, therefore, is to sock away funds to tide you over when times are tough.

See also: for, rainy, save

Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price Copyright © 2011 by Steven D. Price