cloud up
1. To become overcast, as of the sky. Enjoy this sunshine while it lasts because the sky is supposed to cloud up this afternoon. I wouldn't go outside right now—it looks to be clouding up. The raincoat is overkill now, but if the sky clouds up later like it's supposed to, then I'll look like a genius.
2. To become very sad or upset. Her face clouded up at the mention of her ex-girlfriend. When I saw the baby cloud up, I prepared myself for the wails to follow. I don't know why I thought I could give the eulogy—man, I clouded up as soon as I walked into the church.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
cloud up
1. Lit. [for the sky] to get cloudy, as if it were going to rain. All of a sudden it clouded up and began to rain. It usually clouds up at the top of the mountain.
2. Fig. [for someone] to grow very sad, as if to cry. Whenever Mary got homesick, she'd cloud up. She really wanted to go home.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.