⚡What a Stormy Childhood Taught Me About Weather Idioms⚡

Growing up in Pennsylvania, I had a childhood home that was hit by lightning four times! First, a lightning bolt struck the TV antenna, blowing up our television. A few years later, lightning ripped off a large branch from a tree in our front yard. A couple of years later, lightning shot out of our bathroom showerhead! Later that year, another bolt of lightning struck a second tree in our yard, splitting it right down the middle.

Living through those scary storms made me realize how much we use weather to describe our feelings.

ペンシルベニア州で育った頃、実家にはなんと4回も落雷がありました！最初はテレビのアンテナに雷が落ち、テレビが爆発してしまいました。数年後には、庭の木から大きな枝が雷で引きちぎられました。さらに数年後には、なんと浴室のシャワーヘッドから雷が飛び出したのです！その年の後半には、庭の別の木に雷が落ち、木が真っ二つに裂けてしまいました。

あのような恐ろしい嵐を経験したことで、私たちは自分の気持ちを表現するのに、いかに天候の言葉をよく使っているかということに気づかされました。

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⚡ Lightning Never Strikes Twice

In English, this means that a rare, bad event is unlikely to happen again to the same person or place. (Though my childhood house proved this is not scientifically true!)

• Japanese Equivalent: 二度あることは三度ある

🌤️ Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining

This means that there is always something good or hopeful to be found in a bad situation.

• Japanese Equivalent: 人間万事塞翁が馬

☁️ On Cloud Nine

This means feeling incredibly happy, excited, or on top of the world.

• Japanese Equivalent: 天にも昇る心地

🧊 Break the Ice

This means saying or doing something that makes people feel relaxed and comfortable when they first meet, breaking any awkward silence.

• Japanese Equivalent: 座の空気を和ませる

🌡️ Under the Weather

This means feeling a little bit sick, tired, or unwell.

• Japanese Equivalent: 体調を崩す

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Weather gives us the perfect words to share our stories. Which of these idioms do you like the most? My favorite is On Cloud Nine because I love my teaching job!

天気は、私たちの物語を語るのにぴったりの言葉を授けてくれます。ここで紹介した慣用句の中で、皆さんはどれが一番好きですか？私のお気に入りは「On Cloud Nine（この上なく幸せ）」です。教えるという仕事が大好きだからです！