Worksheet 17 : Weather

SKYPE session preparation. Speak about the weather! 

1. Weather idioms

2. Speak about the snow

1.Weather idioms

Break the ice

Meaning: to start a conversation, break the difficult silence when meeting someone new.

Example: We started a new English class yesterday and broke the ice by introducing ourselves and playing a game.

As right as rain

Meaning: to feel well, not ill.

Example: Yesterday I thought I had a cold.  I had some hot milk and an aspirin before I went to bed and the next morning I was as right as rain.

To be under the weather

Meaning: to feel sick or unhealthy.

Example: Are you coming to the party on Friday? Unfortunately not, I feel a bit under the weather so I want to stay in.

A fair-weather friend

Meaning: someone who is your friend only when you’re in a good situation but they don’t  want to know you or support you in difficult times.

Example: Michael  never visits me now I have lost  my job and have no money; before that he was always at my house, eating and drinking!

Calm before the storm

Meaning: a quiet and peaceful time before something with great activity or difficulty happens.

Example: When the day at work started quietly I knew it was just the calm before the storm. I was expecting a busy day with lots of problems at the office.

Every cloud has a silver lining

Meaning: there’s something good in every bad situation.

Example: I’m really sick and feel awful, but I get to stay home, so I can thoroughly prepare for the test on Monday. Every cloud has a silver lining.

It never rains but it pours

Meaning: is used to comment on a situation that when something bad happens usually other bad things happen as well.

Example: First she got locked out of her apartment, then she lost her purse and when she was crossing the road she got splashed by a car. It never rains but it pours!

It’s raining cats and dogs

Meaning: it’s raining very hard, it’s pouring.

Example: I think I’m going to stay in today and read a book. It’s raining cats and dogs.

A storm is brewing

Meaning: there is going to be trouble or an argument.

Example: Everybody is getting on John’s last nerve with all these questions. A storm is brewing.

Steal someone’s thunder

Meaning: to take attention away from someone on their special day i.e. a wedding or birthday.

Example: Look at Jenny in that dress, she really stole the bride’s thunder.

Save it for a rainy day

Meaning: keep something i.e. money for a time when it is needed.

Example: I earned extra money babysitting my neighbor’s kids. I’ll save it for a rainy day.

Take a rain check

Meaning: is used to refuse an offer in a polite way, implying that you may accept it in the future.

Example: Annie, come to the movies with us. Sorry I’ll take a rain check.

To be on cloud nine

Meaning: to be very happy about something

Example: When I finally got the promotion I was on cloud nine.

Come rain or shine

Meaning: no matter the circumstances, also whatever the weather is.

Example: I will stand by you come rain or shine, you are my best friend.

2.Speak about the snow    SKYPE SESSION

Vocabulary list. Use the vocabulary and expressions below to describe a snowy day. 

Tell me about your own experience or describe one of my pictures.

          Tenses

• It is snowing - present continuous

• It ( usually/often) snows - simple present

• It has snowed - present perfect

• It snowed - past

• It is going to snow - future

• They forecast snow - future

       Vocabulary and expressions

• freezing cold: very, very cold

• icy cold :    very, very cold

• to be below freezing: temperature is below zero degrees

• bitterly cold: extremely cold and unpleasant

• a blanket of snow:  when there is a complete covering of snow

• a blizzard : when there is strong wind and snow together

• snowflakes :  individual pieces of snow

• snowman :   a man made of snow

• as cold as ice : an expression used to compare things to ice

Describe one of  the pictures below or compare the three pictures.