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 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.
The element CO2 , known by this name, is blamed for causing climate change.
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.
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 main ingredient in household dust.
What are dead skin cells? Researchers have found that people shed around 200 million dead skin cells every hour.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.