weather

(I've) been under the weather.

Fig. a greeting response indicating that one has been ill. John: How have you been? Sally: I've been under the weather, but I'm better. Doctor: How are you? Mary: I've been under the weather. Doctor: Maybe we can fix that. What seems to be the trouble?

See also: been

fair-weather friend

Fig. someone who is your friend only when things are pleasant or going well for you. Bill stayed for lunch but he wouldn't help me with the yard work. He's just a fair-weather friend. A fair-weather friend isn't much help in an emergency.

See also: friend

How do you like this weather?

something said when greeting someone. (A direct answer is expected.) Henry: Hi, Bill. How do you like this weather? Bill: Lovely weather for ducks. Not too good for me, though. Alice: Gee, it's hot! How do you like this weather? Rachel: You can have it!

See also: how, like, this

keep one's weather eye open

Fig. to watch for something (to happen); to be on the alert (for something); to be on guard. Some trouble is brewing. Keep your weather eye open. Try to be more alert. Learn to keep your weather eye open.

See also: eye, keep, open

Lovely weather for ducks, and Fine weather for ducks.

Cliché a greeting meaning that this unpleasant rainy weather must be good for something. Bill: Hi, Bob. How do you like this weather? Bob: Lovely weather for ducks. Sally: What a lot of rain! Tom: Yeah. Lovely weather for ducks. Don't care for it much myself.

See also: duck, lovely

Nice weather we're having. 

1. Lit. Isn't the weather nice? (Sometimes used to start a conversation with a stranger.) Bill: Nice weather we're having. Bob: Yeah. It's great. Mary glanced out the window and said to the lady sitting next to her, "Nice weather we're having."

2. Fig. Isn't this weather bad? (Sarcastic.) Bill: Hi, Tom. Nice weather we're having, huh? Tom: Yeah. Gee, it's hot! Mary: Nice weather we're having! Sally: Sure. Lovely weather for ducks.

See also: have, nice

under the weather 

1. ill. I feel sort of under the weather today. Whatever I ate for lunch is making me feel a bit under the weather.

2. intoxicated. Daddy's had a few beers and is under the weather again. Wally's just a tad under the weather.

weather permitting

Fig. if the weather allows it. Weather permitting, we will be there on time. The plane lands at midnight, weather permitting.

See also: permit

weather the storm 

1. Fig. to experience and survive a storm. We decided to stay in the building and weather the storm there with the other visitors.

2. Fig. to experience something and survive it. (Fig. on {2}.) The manager went on another shouting rampage and frightened his assistants. The rest of us stayed in our offices to weather the storm.

See also: storm

What do you think of this weather?

a phrase used to open a conversation with someone, often someone one has just met. Sue: Glad to meet you, Mary. Mary: What do you think about this weather? Sue: I've seen better. Bill: What do you think about this weather? Jane: Lovely weather for ducks.

See also: think, this

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a fair-weather friend

someone who is only your friend when you are happy and successful I had a lot of money and I knew a lot of people, but most of them turned out to be fair-weather friends.

See also: friend

be/feel under the weather

to feel ill I'm feeling a little under the weather - I think I may have caught a cold.

See ride out the storm, keep a weather eye on

brass monkey weather  (British very informal)

extremely cold weather It's brass monkey weather today, isn't it! (British very informal!)

See also: brass, monkey

keep a weather eye on something/somebody   (British & Australian)

to watch something or someone carefully, because they may cause trouble or they may need help I'd like you to keep a weather eye on the situation and report any major developments to me at once.

See also: eye, keep

make heavy weather of something/doing something   (British & Australian)

to take a longer time than necessary to do something He's making heavy weather of writing his report - Ingrid finished hers days ago.

See also: heavy, make

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: out, ride, storm

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under the weather

not healthy It's hard to keep working when you're under the weather.

weather the storm also ride out the storm

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

See also: storm

weather the storm

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

See also: storm