Nature is all around us. We see trees, rivers, sunshine, and animals every day. Nature helps us feel calm and happy. When people talk about nature, they often use special phrases called idioms. Idioms are fun sayings. They don’t mean exactly what the words say. Instead, they have a different meaning that people understand.
In this article, we will talk about idioms that use ideas from nature. You may hear these in stories, songs, or everyday speech. Learning these idioms will help you speak and write in a more colorful way. Let’s begin and find out how nature can help us say things in a fun and smart way.
Idioms for Nature
1. Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling sick
Give an Instance: I stayed home because I was feeling under the weather. / She missed the game because she was under the weather.
Substitute Meaning: Not feeling well / A little sick
2. Rain or shine
Meaning: No matter what happens
Give an Instance: We’ll have the picnic, rain or shine. / The school play will go on, rain or shine.
Substitute Meaning: No matter what / Even if it rains
3. In full bloom
Meaning: At the best or most beautiful stage
Give an Instance: The garden is in full bloom. / Her talent is in full bloom this year.
Substitute Meaning: At their best / Very pretty or active
4. A storm is brewing
Meaning: Trouble is coming
Give an Instance: When I saw their faces, I knew a storm was brewing. / The classroom got quiet, like a storm was brewing.
Substitute Meaning: Trouble is near / Something bad is about to happen
5. Calm before the storm
Meaning: A quiet time before something big or busy
Give an Instance: It was quiet in the house, the calm before the storm of guests. / Everyone sat still, like the calm before the storm.
Substitute Meaning: Quiet moment / Before things get busy
6. Make hay while the sun shines
Meaning: Do something while you have the chance
Give an Instance: We should finish our homework now. Make hay while the sun shines! / Play outside now make hay while the sun shines!
Substitute Meaning: Don’t waste time / Use your chance
7. Like a fish out of water
Meaning: Feeling out of place
Give an Instance: I felt like a fish out of water at the new school. / He looked like a fish out of water at the dance.
Substitute Meaning: Uncomfortable / Out of place
8. Take a leaf out of someone’s book
Meaning: Copy a good action
Give an Instance: You should take a leaf out of her book and clean up. / I took a leaf out of Dad’s book and helped my friend.
Substitute Meaning: Follow a good example / Do the same good thing
9. Chase rainbows
Meaning: Try something hard or silly to reach
Give an Instance: He’s chasing rainbows trying to win every game. / Don’t chase rainbows just enjoy playing.
Substitute Meaning: Dreaming too big / Reaching for something too hard
10. On cloud nine
Meaning: Very happy
Give an Instance: She was on cloud nine after getting the award. / I felt on cloud nine when we won.
Substitute Meaning: Super happy / Full of joy
11. Come rain or shine
Meaning: Always happening
Give an Instance: We walk the dog every morning, come rain or shine. / She reads her book daily, come rain or shine.
Substitute Meaning: All the time / No matter the weather
12. Blow hot and cold
Meaning: Change mood or opinion often
Give an Instance: He blows hot and cold about the trip. / She blows hot and cold with her favorite subject.
Substitute Meaning: Keeps changing / Can’t decide
13. Get wind of something
Meaning: Hear a secret
Give an Instance: I got wind of the surprise party. / She got wind of the secret plan.
Substitute Meaning: Found out / Heard about it
14. Lightning fast
Meaning: Very quick
Give an Instance: He ran lightning fast to catch the bus. / The answer came to her lightning fast.
Substitute Meaning: Super fast / Like a flash
15. In the weeds
Meaning: Lost or stuck in a problem
Give an Instance: I got in the weeds with my math homework. / She was in the weeds trying to finish her chores.
Substitute Meaning: Stuck / Confused
16. The grass is greener on the other side
Meaning: Thinking something else is better
Give an Instance: He left the team, but now misses it. The grass isn’t always greener. / She thought the new school would be better but it’s not.
Substitute Meaning: Looks better somewhere else / Not always true
17. Nip it in the bud
Meaning: Stop something early
Give an Instance: I nipped the fight in the bud before it got worse. / Let’s nip this mess in the bud now.
Substitute Meaning: Stop early / Fix it fast
18. Hit the hay
Meaning: Go to sleep
Give an Instance: I’m tired, time to hit the hay. / After the party, we all hit the hay.
Substitute Meaning: Go to bed / Sleep
19. Break the ice
Meaning: Start talking in a new or quiet place
Give an Instance: She broke the ice with a joke. / We broke the ice by playing a game.
Substitute Meaning: Start talking / Make things less quiet
20. Catch some rays
Meaning: Sit or play in the sun
Give an Instance: We went to the park to catch some rays. / She sat outside to catch some rays after school.
Substitute Meaning: Enjoy sunshine / Be in the sun
21. Snowed under
Meaning: Very busy
Give an Instance: I’m snowed under with homework. / She was snowed under before the test.
Substitute Meaning: Too much to do / Very busy
22. Break the ice
Meaning: Start talking or make things less tense
Give an Instance: We played a game to break the ice. / Her joke broke the ice at the party.
Substitute Meaning: Make things easier / Start a chat
23. Fresh as a daisy
Meaning: Feeling rested and ready
Give an Instance: After a nap, I felt fresh as a daisy. / She woke up fresh as a daisy.
Substitute Meaning: Full of energy / Ready to go
24. Out of the woods
Meaning: Safe from trouble
Give an Instance: He finished his project and is out of the woods. / After the flu, she’s out of the woods.
Substitute Meaning: Safe now / Trouble is over
25. Go with the flow
Meaning: Let things happen naturally
Give an Instance: I didn’t plan the trip, just went with the flow. / He goes with the flow at parties.
Substitute Meaning: Be easygoing / Let things happen
26. In deep water
Meaning: In trouble
Give an Instance: I was in deep water after missing practice. / He’s in deep water with his grades.
Substitute Meaning: In trouble / Facing a hard time
27. A ray of sunshine
Meaning: Someone who brings joy
Give an Instance: Her laugh is a ray of sunshine. / He’s always a ray of sunshine at school.
Substitute Meaning: Very cheerful / Makes others happy
28. Go out on a limb
Meaning: Take a risk
Give an Instance: She went out on a limb and told the truth. / I went out on a limb and joined the contest.
Substitute Meaning: Take a chance / Be brave
29. The tip of the iceberg
Meaning: Just a small part of a big problem
Give an Instance: The broken toy is just the tip of the iceberg. / That’s only the start the tip of the iceberg.
Substitute Meaning: Only a small piece / Much more behind it
30. In hot water
Meaning: In trouble
Give an Instance: I’m in hot water for not cleaning my room. / He’s in hot water after the test.
Substitute Meaning: In trouble / Having problems
31. As fast as lightning
Meaning: Very quick
Give an Instance: She cleaned her desk as fast as lightning. / He answered as fast as lightning.
Substitute Meaning: Very quick / Super fast
32. Throw caution to the wind
Meaning: Take a big risk
Give an Instance: I threw caution to the wind and sang in front of everyone. / He threw caution to the wind and joined the race.
Substitute Meaning: Be bold / Take a risk
33. Walking on air
Meaning: Feeling very happy
Give an Instance: She was walking on air after the win. / I was walking on air after my birthday party.
Substitute Meaning: Very happy / Full of joy
34. Come out of your shell
Meaning: Become more social
Give an Instance: He came out of his shell and made new friends. / She came out of her shell after joining the club.
Substitute Meaning: Be more open / Talk more
35. Head in the clouds
Meaning: Daydreaming
Give an Instance: I forgot my homework I had my head in the clouds. / She was daydreaming, her head in the clouds.
Substitute Meaning: Not paying attention / Thinking of other things
36. Reach for the stars
Meaning: Try your best
Give an Instance: Always reach for the stars in your work. / He reached for the stars and got the prize.
Substitute Meaning: Aim high / Try hard
37. A breath of fresh air
Meaning: Something new and nice
Give an Instance: The new teacher is a breath of fresh air. / Her ideas are a breath of fresh air.
Substitute Meaning: Refreshing / Nice change
38. Put down roots
Meaning: Settle in one place
Give an Instance: We put down roots in our new town. / She’s putting down roots at her new school.
Substitute Meaning: Stay in one place / Feel at home
39. As cool as a cucumber
Meaning: Very calm
Give an Instance: She was as cool as a cucumber during the test. / He stayed calm, cool as a cucumber.
Substitute Meaning: Not worried / Very relaxed
40. Weather the storm
Meaning: Get through a tough time
Give an Instance: We weathered the storm of tests this week. / She weathered the storm of moving schools.
Substitute Meaning: Made it through / Got past the hard part
41. Down to earth
Meaning: Very normal or simple
Give an Instance: He’s famous, but really down to earth. / She’s smart and kind, very down to earth.
Substitute Meaning: Simple and kind / Not fancy
42. Dry spell
Meaning: A time with little or no success
Give an Instance: I had a dry spell in soccer, but now I’m scoring again. / She’s trying to end her dry spell in reading.
Substitute Meaning: Not doing well / Hard time
43. In a fog
Meaning: Confused
Give an Instance: I was in a fog during the hard math lesson. / He looked like he was in a fog all morning.
Substitute Meaning: Not clear / Confused
44. Rain on someone’s parade
Meaning: Ruin someone’s happy time
Give an Instance: Don’t rain on his parade he just won! / I didn’t mean to rain on her parade with the bad news.
Substitute Meaning: Spoil the fun / Say something sad
45. Dig in your heels
Meaning: Refuse to change
Give an Instance: I told him to try it, but he dug in his heels. / She dug in her heels and said no.
Substitute Meaning: Won’t change mind / Stay firm
Find the “Idioms for Nature”
Reading Passage
It was Friday afternoon, and the whole 5th-grade class was excited about the school picnic. The sun was out, and everyone was ready to catch some rays. Mr. Brooks reminded the students, “Come rain or shine, we’re going to have fun!”
Emma was feeling a bit under the weather that morning, but she didn’t want to miss the picnic. By lunchtime, she felt fresh as a daisy and joined her friends outside. Caleb, who often had his head in the clouds, forgot his lunch. Luckily, Mia, always a ray of sunshine, shared some snacks with him.
While they played games, a storm was brewing between two friends arguing over a ball. Mrs. Chen stepped in and nipped it in the bud with a smile and a quick game change. Later, the group rested under a tree. “Let’s go with the flow,” said Leo, who always stayed as cool as a cucumber.
As the bus ride home began, they all looked out the window. The clouds were turning pink. “This day was like the calm before the storm of homework next week,” joked Dani. Everyone laughed and agreed it was a perfect day to make hay while the sun shines.
Instructions for Students
Read the passage again. Underline or list all the nature idioms you can find.
Answer Key
- Catch some rays
- Come rain or shine
- Under the weather
- Fresh as a daisy
- Head in the clouds
- A ray of sunshine
- A storm was brewing
- Nip it in the bud
- Go with the flow
- As cool as a cucumber
- The calm before the storm
- Make hay while the sun shines
Conclusion
Nature idioms help people say things in fun and simple ways. These phrases use words about weather, plants, and animals to explain feelings, ideas, and actions. You might hear someone say “under the weather” when they feel sick or “make hay while the sun shines” when they want to do something quickly.
By learning idioms from nature, you can talk and write in a more colorful way. These phrases are easy to remember and fun to use. Next time you hear someone use one, try to figure out what they really mean. You may even start using them yourself.
