come what may
No matter the circumstances, and regardless of the outcome.
Example: They promised to stay together, come what may.
C119 words · Advanced
Weather & Nature Idioms vocabulary — C1
Weather idioms for describing change and confrontation, with phrases like a sea change, muddy the waters and batten down the hatches.
19 questions
Words in this set
19a sea change
A substantial and transformative shift in attitude or situation.
Example:
The new leadership brought about a sea change in company culture.
against the tide
Opposing the general trend or popular opinion.
Example:
Her decision to work from a small town went against the tide of city migration.
a ripple effect
A spreading series of consequences that follow from a single event.
Example:
The factory closure had a ripple effect across the whole town's economy.
batten down the hatches
To prepare carefully for a difficult or turbulent situation ahead.
Example:
With the storm approaching, the crew battened down the hatches.
test the waters
To try something cautiously to see how it is received before fully committing to it.
Example:
We released a small version first to test the waters.
muddy the waters
To make a situation more confusing or unclear, often deliberately.
Example:
His extra comments only muddied the waters during the negotiation.
a ray of hope
A small sign that something good or successful might still happen in a difficult situation.
Example:
The new treatment offered a ray of hope to patients.
come hell or high water
No matter what difficulties happen, said to show strong determination to do something.
Example:
We're finishing this project, come hell or high water.
a fair wind
Favourable conditions for succeeding.
Example:
With a fair wind the project finishes in April.
take the wind out of someone's sails
To make someone suddenly lose confidence.
Example:
One question was enough to take the wind out of someone's sails.
a snowball's chance in hell
No chance at all.
Example:
That amendment has a snowball's chance in hell of passing.
high and dry
Left in a difficult position with no help.
Example:
The supplier folded and left them high and dry in November.
in deep water
In serious trouble.
Example:
The department was in deep water long before the audit.
a watershed moment
A point after which everything is different.
Example:
That vote was a watershed moment for the whole industry.
the lie of the land
The way a situation is currently arranged.
Example:
Spend a week finding the lie of the land before changing anything.
make heavy weather of
To make something seem more difficult than it is.
Example:
They managed to make heavy weather of a two-page form.
a rising tide lifts all boats
General improvement benefits everyone.
Example:
The argument was that a rising tide lifts all boats, and it did not.
cast adrift
Left without support or direction.
Example:
The smaller branches were cast adrift in the reorganisation.
