The weather has been very wet recently here on the continent, yet most people think that it’s in the UK where it always rains! Whether this is true or not, it is fair to say that the UK does have an unpredictable climate. One moment it’s raining and then the next moment the clouds clear and the sun comes out! As a result, the Brits love to discuss the weather and our vocabulary reflects this. For example, we don’t just say it’s raining, we can use more colourful verbs and expressions such as:
It’s pouring (raining very heavily) It’s drizzling (raining very lightly) There was a shower this morning (a short, sudden fall of rain) There was a downpour last night (a heavy fall of rain) We had torrential rain last week (very heavy rain) It was raining cats and dogs all day yesterday (raining heavily) We also have lots of expressions connected to the weather and in particular rain. Below are just a few. Try and use one the next time you speak English.
“Last week my car broke down and the repairs are going to cost too much so I’m going to have a buy a new car. Two days later, my washing machine broke too! It never rains but it pours!”
“Sophie cycles to work every day, come rain or shine.” “I’ll be with you at 6pm on Friday come rain or shine. You can count on me.”
“My grandfather’s best advice to me was to always try and save part of my monthly salary for a rainy day. When I needed to buy a new car urgently, I had the money, thanks to his advice!”
“I was off work last week with the flu. But I’m as right as rain now.”
“Can I invite you for lunch?” “That’s very kind, I’d love to but I’m in a hurry today. Can I take a rain check?” With all these verbs and expressions I suppose it is true to say that, despite global warming, it often rains in the UK! But then without the rain, the countryside wouldn’t be so gloriously fresh and green. So you see, every cloud has a silver lining! (there’s always something positive to come out of something bad). |
Philippa StaceyPhilippa Stacey a fondé Eureka en 2007. Elle vit et enseigne l’anglais aux professionnels en France depuis 1993. Archives
Octobre 2024
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