steal someone's thunder
To take credit or attention that rightfully belongs to someone else.
Example: Announcing his engagement at her party really stole her thunder.
B216 words · Upper-intermediate
Weather & Nature Idioms vocabulary — B2
Weather idioms for describing pressure and setbacks, with phrases like snowed under, steal someone's thunder and the tip of the iceberg.
16 questions
Words in this set
16on thin ice
In a risky position where you are likely to get into trouble.
Example:
After being late three times, he's on thin ice with his manager.
snowed under
Overwhelmed with far more work than you can handle.
Example:
I've been completely snowed under with paperwork this week.
a drop in the ocean
A very small amount that makes almost no difference compared to what is actually needed.
Example:
The donation was generous, but it's a drop in the ocean compared to the total cost.
in the eye of the storm
At the very centre of a difficult or chaotic situation.
Example:
As the scandal grew, the young manager found herself in the eye of the storm.
under a cloud
Suspected of wrongdoing, or living with a sense of disgrace.
Example:
He resigned under a cloud after the financial scandal.
take a rain check
To postpone accepting an invitation, with the intention of doing it another time instead.
Example:
I can't make dinner tonight — can I take a rain check?
a face like thunder
Looking extremely angry.
Example:
He walked in with a face like thunder after losing the match.
the tip of the iceberg
A small, visible part of a much larger problem that remains hidden.
Example:
The complaints we've heard are just the tip of the iceberg.
get wind of something
To learn about something that was supposed to be secret or private.
Example:
The press got wind of the merger before it was announced.
it never rains but it pours
When one bad thing happens, several others follow.
Example:
The boiler, the car and then the roof: it never rains but it pours.
right as rain
Completely well again.
Example:
Two days in bed and he was right as rain.
a whirlwind tour
A very fast visit taking in many places.
Example:
They did a whirlwind tour of four countries in nine days.
lightning never strikes twice
The same unlikely misfortune will not happen again.
Example:
He rebuilt on the same spot, believing lightning never strikes twice.
the winds of change
Forces that are bringing something new.
Example:
The winds of change reached that department about ten years late.
stem the tide
To stop something bad from spreading.
Example:
Two extra staff were not going to stem the tide of complaints.
