storm

Any port in a storm.

something that you say which means you must accept any help you are offered when you are in a difficult situation, although you may not want to do this. I don't even like him very much, but I had to move out of my flat and he offered me a place to stay. Any port in a storm, as they say.

See also: any, port

be in the eye of the storm

to be very much involved in an argument or problem that affects a lot of people. International aid agencies were in the eye of the storm when war broke out in the country.

See also: eye

the calm before the storm

a peaceful and quiet period before a period of activity or trouble. The family are arriving this afternoon so I'm just sitting down with a cup of coffee, enjoying the calm before the storm.

See also: before

[dance/sing/talk etc.] up a storm (American, informal)

to do something with a lot of energy. Her dog barks up a storm every time the phone rings. They were sitting in a corner, talking up a storm.

See also: dance, sing, talk

ride out/weather the storm

to continue to exist and not be harmed during a very difficult period. When smaller companies were going bankrupt, the big companies with wider interests managed to ride out the storm. It remains to be seen if the President will weather the political storm caused by his remarks.

See also: ride, weather

a storm in a teacup (British & Australian)

a situation where people get very angry or worried about something that is not important. I think it's all a storm in a teacup - there's probably no danger to public health at all. (not used with the)

See also: teacup

take someone/something by storm

to suddenly be very successful in a particular place or with a particular group of people. Today we're interviewing the 20-year-old fashion designer who has taken Paris by storm.

See also: take

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the calm before the storm

a quiet period immediately before a period of great activity or trouble. For most teachers, the days just before the school year begins are the calm before the storm.

See also: before

the eye of the storm

the center of a disagreement. The man in the eye of the storm is accused of selling secrets to the enemy.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of the eye of the storm (= the middle of a mass of severe weather)

See also: eye

the lull before the storm

the calm before the storm

See also: before, lull

take someone/something by storm

to be suddenly and extremely successful. The Beatles took the US by storm in the early 1960s.

See also: take

up a storm

with a lot of energy. Her dog barks up a storm every time the phone rings. They were sitting in a corner, talking up a storm.

Usage notes: used after action verbs, as in the examples

weather the storm

1. to be all right despite experiencing serious problems or great difficulties. Bob lost his job, but somehow his family weathered the storm.

2. to continue to exist and not be harmed during a difficult period. Johnson apparently has weathered the storm over his careless remarks.

See also: weather