Ever been on cloud nine?

Have you ever seen a storm in a teacup? Learn 12 weather-related phrases

Image: NOAA

We always talk about the weather, but, as it happens, we also use weather-related terms to talk about other things as well. From "under the weather" to "snowed under," many common phrases have surprisingly stormy origins. These sayings are part of our everyday lexicon, often without us even realizing their connection to sun, rain, wind, or snow. Which of these 12 do you use the most?

Image: Ravi Sharma

The familiar phrase "under the weather" means feeling a bit sick or unwell. It likely comes from sailors who went below deck during storms when they were seasick.

Being sheltered from harsh weather became linked to feeling ill, and over time, the phrase took on its current meaning in everyday language.

Image: Tofazzal Hossain

You have probably heard this one. "Come rain or shine" means something will happen no matter the weather or situation. It shows strong commitment and determination to follow through, despite obstacles.

The phrase began with its literal meaning (events happening in any weather) but grew to express persistence in all circumstances. It’s often used to promise support or dedication, like, "I’ll be there, come rain or shine."

Image: David Ballew

"Every cloud has a silver lining" means there’s always something good, even in tough times. It’s a reminder to stay hopeful and look for the positive in bad situations.

It is said that the phrase likely comes from John Milton’s 1634 poem Comus, where he described a dark cloud revealing a silver edge. This image became a lasting symbol of optimism during hardship.

Image: Johannes Plenio

Have you ever heard of "a storm in a teacup"? It means making a big deal out of something minor. It describes situations where small problems are blown out of proportion, causing needless drama.

The idea goes back to ancient times: Cicero used a similar phrase about stirring up waves in a ladle. The message is the same: don’t let little things cause major stress.

Image: Noah Silliman

Another classic, to "take a rain check" means turning down an offer for now but showing interest in doing it later. It’s a polite way to postpone plans without saying no entirely.

The phrase comes from 19th-century baseball, where fans got "rain checks" if games were rained out, letting them return later without extra cost.

Image: Joshua Fuller

To "get wind of something" means to hear about something, usually a secret or hidden detail, often through rumors or indirect sources. It suggests finding out information unintentionally.

The phrase comes from the idea of animals catching a scent on the wind, picking up on something not meant to be noticed.

Image: Adam Chang

When someone is "snowed under," it means that he or she is feeling overwhelmed, usually by work or responsibilities. It describes being buried by tasks to the point where it’s hard to keep up.

The phrase dates back to the late 1800s and comes from the image of being covered in heavy snow, stuck, weighed down, and unable to move freely.

Image: Max

"As right as rain" means feeling well or that something is in perfect order. It’s used to say everything is fine or back to normal.

The phrase likely began in 19th-century Britain, with rain seen as natural and refreshing. Though the exact origin is unclear, it suggests comfort and things being just as they should be.

Image: mosi knife

Everybody can recognize one: a "fair-weather friend" is someone who sticks around only when things are going well but disappears during tough times. They enjoy the good moments but aren’t there when support is needed.

The phrase dates back to the early 18th century and compares such people to those who flee when the weather, or life, gets stormy. It highlights the difference between true friends and those who vanish when challenges arise.

Image: Emmanuel Appiah

"Head in the clouds" describes someone who’s daydreaming or not paying attention to reality. It can suggest being unrealistic, distracted, or lost in thought.

The phrase comes from the image of clouds high in the sky, far from the ground, just like someone not grounded in the present. It’s a way to describe being mentally elsewhere or out of touch.

Image: Michał Mancewicz

A phrase usually employed in competitive environments or situations, to "steal someone’s thunder" means to take credit for their idea or divert attention from their achievement, often for personal gain. It’s about overshadowing someone unfairly.

Image: Raychel Sanner

To "weather the storm" means to get through a tough situation with strength and resilience. It suggests enduring hardship without serious harm.

The phrase comes from sailing, where ships had to survive harsh storms at sea. Just like sailors battling wind and waves, it reflects the ability to stay steady through life’s challenges.

Ten bizarre inventions from the past that never caught on

Ten crazy inventions history forgot (luckily)

Ever wonder what happened to all those "revolutionary" gadgets that promised to change our lives? Some ideas were just too weird, too early, or too wonderfully impractical to survive. Let's take a nostalgic trip through the patent office's hall of shame.

Back when fresh air was considered a cure-all, London parents who lived in apartments faced a dilemma: how to give their babies outdoor time without a yard? The solution was a wire cage that hung outside the window, suspending Junior several stories above the street. Parents would just pop the baby in the cage and go about their day.

Shockingly, this didn't catch on. Perhaps it was the image of infants dangling precariously over busy sidewalks.

Imagine a giant goldfish bowl on your head, lined with cork, with only a thin slit to see through. That was the Isolator, designed to help people concentrate by blocking out all distractions. The inventor, Hugo Gernsback, thought sensory deprivation was the key to productivity. An attached oxygen tank let you breathe while you worked.

The problem? Looking like a deep-sea diver at your desk isn't exactly conducive to office camaraderie. Plus, trying to type while essentially wearing a fish tank proved impractical.

This battery-powered cone featured a small motor that rotated the ice cream for you, so you could just stick out your tongue and let technology do the rest. It was supposed to prevent drips and ensure even licking coverage.

The invention raised an important question: had we become so lazy that rotating our wrist was now an insurmountable challenge? Apparently, the answer was no. The motorized cone disappeared faster than ice cream on a summer day.

This amphibious bicycle promised to let you pedal across lakes and rivers just as easily as riding down Main Street. It featured a boat-like hull and paddle wheels instead of regular tires. The inventor envisioned commuters cycling across waterways, avoiding bridge traffic entirely.

Unfortunately, the Cyclomer was heavy, slow on both land and water, and required the leg strength of an Olympic athlete to move at anything faster than a crawl.

Dr. John Brinkley convinced thousands of men that transplanting goat testicles into humans would restore youth and vigor. For the bargain price of $750 (about $12,000 today), you could have surgery in his Kansas clinic and supposedly regain the vitality of your younger days.

Unsurprisingly, the procedure didn't work—goat glands don't function in human bodies. Brinkley eventually lost his medical license, but not before making millions.

When cars first became common, someone invented a net-like contraption that attached to the front bumper to scoop up pedestrians before running them over. The idea was that the person would land safely in the net instead of under the wheels. It looked like an industrial-sized butterfly net.

The fatal flaw? Getting hit by a car and caught in a net is still getting hit by a car. Plus, the contraption made vehicles longer and harder to maneuver, probably causing more accidents than it prevented.

Picture this: you're stuck in bed recovering from illness, and what you really need is a full-size piano suspended over your body. That's what one inventor thought, anyway. The piano hung horizontally above the patient, who could supposedly play while lying flat on their back.

Beyond the obvious safety concerns of dangling a heavy musical instrument over sick people, there was the question of who actually wants to play piano while confined to bed.

In an era when dimples were considered irresistibly charming, someone invented a face-shaping device that promised to create them artificially. The contraption used springs and knobs to press into your cheeks for 15 minutes daily until dimples supposedly formed permanently.

It didn't work, of course—dimples are genetic, caused by variations in facial muscle structure. But that didn't stop people from trying.

L. Ron Hubbard claimed this modified lie detector could measure the electrical characteristics of your thoughts and help achieve spiritual enlightenment. Users held two tin cans connected to a meter while being asked questions. A needle supposedly revealed deep psychological truths.

Scientifically, it was just a simple ohmmeter measuring skin resistance—the same principle behind mood rings. But it cost considerably more and came with significantly more baggage.

Why carry a portable radio when you could wear one on your head? This invention looked like a regular pint-sized baseball cap but contained a tiny AM radio with an antenna poking out the top. Earphones ran down to your ears, letting you listen to broadcasts while keeping your hands free.

The problem was that you looked absolutely ridiculous, like an alien trying to blend in at a baseball game. The reception was terrible, the batteries died quickly, and the whole contraption was uncomfortable.