Weather Idioms
This never strikes twice.
What is lightning? Tell that to the Empire State Building, which gets struck around 25 times a year.
These large, spooky birds typically hoot.
What are owls? Some owls make other sounds, such
as bloodcurdling shrieks, cackles, hoots, caws, and gurgles.
This comedy duo gave us “Who’s on First?”
Who are Abbott and Costello? They began working
together in New York’s Eltinge Theater, and they were one of radio’s most popular acts
This vegetable’s name sounds like it would be a hen’s
contribution to the meal.
What is eggplant? Small eggplants look like large,
egg-shaped produce. Botanically, the eggplant is a fruit
This is the number of petals on a shamrock.
What is three? It’s the national flower of Ireland, and you’ll see it everywhere on St. Patrick’s Day because everyone is Irish on March 17.
This is in the air.
What is love? It’s mating season in the animal
kingdom. For all of us, it signals rebirth and fresh hopes.
To go after a seemingly impossible dream is to chase one of these.
What is a rainbow? The chance of catching a literal rainbow on any given day approaches zero. Successful entrepreneurs, such as Fred Smith of FedEx fame, often chase metaphorical rainbows. His company is the result of a paper at Yale University, which earned him a C. He later gambled the last $5,000 in the company coffers to buy fuel for the company’s airplanes.
Mayors sometimes honor dignitaries with this symbolic gift.
What is the key to the city? During ancient times, the key to the city opened a gate in the wall surrounding the city. Today, it’s symbolic.
His Christmas specials and USO tours brought comic relief to the U.S. military in war zones.
Who is Bob Hope? He also performed on radio’s The
Pepsodent Show as well as on TV and film.
These French pastries are oblong and filled with a cream or custard filling.
What are éclairs? Sometimes they’re topped with chocolate fondant.
What is carbon dioxide? Plants don’t “breathe” the same way we do, but they do exchange the gases carbon dioxide and oxygen with the atmosphere.
This is the main ingredient in household dust.
Spring has done this.
What is sprung? Sprung means “to quickly jump.” We don’t meander into spring; we jump into it wholeheartedly.
When feeling sick, we might say we’re under this.
What is the weather? This idiom’s origins may be traced to sailors who felt seasick. They were sent below deck, out of the way of—or under—the weather.
This extends beneath the ear.
What is the earlobe? The earlobe helps maintain balance and provides warmth to the ear.
This jazz musician was also known as “Satchmo” and “Pops.”
Who is Louis Armstrong? His greatest hits include “What a Wonderful World” and “Hello, Dolly!”
This is the name for pottery made of clay.
What is earthenware? The clay is hardened by firing
it in a kiln between 900–1,110°F. Stoneware and porcelain are fired at higher temperatures.
This is the main ingredient in household dust.
What are dead skin cells? Researchers have found that people shed around 200 million dead skin cells every hour.
The first day of this usually occurs on March 19, 20, or 21 in the northern hemisphere.
What is spring? It’s the first day of fall in the southern hemisphere. The lengths of days and nights are equal in both hemispheres. That’s why the first day of spring and fall are called equinoxes.
When people go through an unsuccessful period, they
go through this kind of spell.
What is dry? A dry spell might be caused by a
drought of ideas.
He was Mary Todd’s famous husband.
Who is President Abraham Lincoln? Mary Todd Lincoln was a tragic figure. Her mother passed away when she was a young child. Her husband was assassinated, and she lost three of her four children.
The Adventures of [this detective] series was based on a real-life detective, and the character was first created for The Maltese Falcon.
Who is Sam Spade? The show was The Adventures of Sam Spade, and it aired from 1946–1951.
When a person flees his country to live in another
country, he is said to live in this state.
What is exile? It’s a common occurrence among heads of state who are considered enemies by their political opponents and fear for their lives.
The Rubik’s Cube has this number of sides.
What is six? The world record for solving the Rubik’s
Cube is 3.13 seconds.
One of the Beatles’ early hits is “Here Comes the [missing word].”
What is sun? Winter is usually extremely gloomy in England, but in 2019, the sun popped out in February, and temperatures soared. They called it “fool’s spring.”
When people are extremely angry, they can have a face like this.
What is thunder? The phrase “a face like thunder” is thought to date to the late 18th century.
This airline booked reservations for the first flight to the moon.
What is Pan Am? They booked 90,000 reservations, but the flight never happened. Today, SpaceX and others are pioneering space tourism travel.
This president’s fireside chats were a series of nighttime radio speeches.
Who is President Franklin D. Roosevelt? Roosevelt was the first president to use radio instead of newspaper for mass communication with the American people. FDR was a brilliant communicator who used the fireside chats to persuade his audience.
This title of British nobility is the equivalent of a French count.
What is earl? It’s the oldest British title of nobility.
Before Alaska joined the Union, the United States had this number of states.
What is 48? Alaska gained statehood on January 3,
1959. Hawaii was the 50th state, admitted to the Union seven months later, on August 21, 1959.
The Egyptians built the Great Sphinx so that it points directly toward this on the first day of spring.
What is the sun? The sun sets on this half-man, half-lion’s shoulders twice a year during the spring and fall equinox.
When a car flies by you on the highway, you might say that it’s moving like this kind of lightning.
What is greased? Greased lightning also describes strong alcohol.
You can see these manufactured structures in Dubai from space due to the sharp contrast between them and the surrounding area.
What are Palm Islands? These artificial islands were created using satellite positioning technology to spray sand in the desired locations.
This show, originally named The Detective, opens with “Who knows what lurks in the hearts of men?”
What is The Shadow? After the opening question, the narrator answers, “The Shadow knows.” It was one of the most popular radio shows of its time, and people still quote these opening lines
In the United States, citizens do not vote directly for the president and vice president; instead, they vote for these people who vote for the winners in their respective states.
What are electors? The person who wins the popular vote does not always win the electoral vote. It has happened five times that the person who lost the popular vote became U.S. president.
H2 O2 stands for this common household substance.
What is peroxide? It’s water with one additional oxygen molecule. The two oxygen molecules are linked together
This is the Latin word for “spring.”
What is vernal? The spring equinox is also called the vernal equinox.
She played Anita in the original Broadway production of West Side Story.
Who is Chita Rivera? That production opened in 1957. In 1961, Rita Moreno played Anita on the big screen.