I have defined some of the words (underlined) in the dialogue, which you can add to your Personal Dictionary. Click on the Excel icon to download the word list to your PC or mobile device, which you can thereafter import into your Personal Dictionary. They are also listed below.
Scroll down to the bottom for links to a crossword and word search using words from this post, as well a YouTube video.
Coming down in buckets (exp) – Heavy rain
Raining cats and dogs (exp) – Heavy rain
Scorching (adj) – Very hot
Roasting (adj) – Very hot and dry
Baking (adj) – Extremely hot
Boiling (adj) – Extremely hot in prolonged sun or hot weather
Coming down in stair rods (exp) – Very heavy rain
Brolly (n) – Umbrella
Stateside (adj) – The USA
The middle of nowhere (n) – A place that is very remote
Bask (v) – Lay exposed to warmth and light, typically from the sun, for relaxation and pleasure
Peasouper (n) – A very thick yellowish fog
Chilly (adj) – Uncomfortably or unpleasantly cold
Gloomy (adj) – Poor light
Blighty (n) – Great Britain
Neck of the woods (exp) – The neighbourhood, town, or the area where you live
You have to say that the English weather is unique. The rain was coming down in buckets earlier, or to use your favourite idiom, raining cats and dogs, but now it is scorching.
Yes, I’m roasting. I’m not sure if this baking hot weather was forecast either. I wonder if it will be boiling again tomorrow, because we have been invited to a barbecue.
If we are going to eat outside, the rain is sure to be coming down in stair rods. That’s Murphy’s law. Anyway, you look a bit silly with a brolly on this piping hot day.
Why? It could be a sunshade. I wonder what the weather is like stateside.
Oh yes, my parents crossed over the big pond yesterday. I almost forgot. I’ll send them a text message. Dad always replies very quickly.
Knowing your Mum’s navigational skills, they are probably in the middle of nowhere, looking for the way back to their hotel.
I’m sure they are basking in hot weather. It is July, and the weather is better over there. Hold on, I’ve just received a message. I told you he was fast.
What’s he written?
He says that they woke up to a real peasouper this morning. He also wrote that it is very chilly, and the forecast is gloomy. He also wants to know how the weather in Blighty is.
Tell him that it’s crisp and grim in our neck of the woods, otherwise he’ll feel miserable.
Oh, look at those clouds. It probably will be very shortly anyway.
To test your knowledge, why not do a crossword puzzle, using words from this text?
Click here for instructions on how to play.
To test your knowledge, why not do a word search puzzle, using words from this text?
Click here for instructions on how to play.
Click on the image to watch a video about Weather and Environment Slang
Weather
Baking (adj) – Extremely hot in prolonged sun or hot weather
The weather is baking today. I’m so glad that we’re going to the beach.
Bask (v) – Lay exposed to warmth and light, typically from the sun, for relaxation and pleasure
Today, I will be basking in the sun in my garden. I’ve got a good book to read.
Boiling (adj) – Extremely hot in prolonged sun or hot weather
Boiling temperatures in Thailand are not easy for travellers from Europe.
Brass monkeys (n) – Very cold weather
You had better wear your winter coat. It is brass monkeys outside today.
Breezy (adj) – Pleasantly windy
It’s a little bit breezy at the coast, which is good for the windsurfers.
Brolly (n) – Umbrella
Don’t forget to bring your brolly, because those clouds look very dark.
Chilly (adj) – Uncomfortably or unpleasantly cold
After the spell of warm weather we’ve been having today is a little chilly.
Coming down in buckets (exp) – Heavy rain
It’s coming down in buckets. I think we’ll have to cancel our picnic.
Crisp (adj) – Fresh and invigorating
It’s very a crisp morning. I think I’ll go out for a run.
Freezing (adj) – Very cold
It’s freezing. I’m so glad I brought my gloves.
Fresh (adj) – Rather cold and windy
It’s a bit fresh out today. You had better put on a pullover.
Gloomy (adj) – Poor light
Although it’s gloomy out the weather people said it wouldn’t rain.
Grim (adj) – Bleak
The weather forecast is grim. I think I’ll stay in all day and watch television.
Hazy (adj) – Poor visibility
Be careful on the roads, because it’s very hazy.
Peasouper (n) – A very thick yellowish fog
It’s a real pea-souper. Even take-offs and landings at Heathrow Airport have been suspended.
Piping (adj) – Very hot
Wow, it’s piping out there. Can I have an ice cream?
Raining cats and dogs (exp) – Heavy rain
The cricket match has been called off, because it’s raining cats and dogs.
Roasting (adj) – Very hot and dry
I am roasting. Can you turn the air-conditioning on?
Scorching (adj) – Very hot
It’s a scorching hot day. Make sure you bring your suncream with you.
Coming down in stair rods (exp) – Very heavy rain
It’s coming down in stair rods today. I hate days like these.
Environment
Blighty (n) – Britain
It’s always nice to go away, but I’ll be glad when we are back in Blighty.
Down under (n) Australia and New Zealand
Next week my cousin will visit us. She lives down under.
Neck of the woods (exp) – The neighbourhood, town, or the area where you live
I think we are lost. This is not really my neck of the woods.
Stateside (adj) – The USA
I haven’t been stateside for about 10 years. I’m looking forward to going there again.
The big pond (n) – The Atlantic Ocean
I’ll be flying over the big pond to New York next week.
The drink (n) – Water (river, lake or sea)
Graham lost his footing on the boat and suddenly he was in the drink.
The middle of nowhere (n) – A place that is very remote
We are visiting our friends Paul and Jenny on Saturday night. They live in the middle of nowhere, so we will need to take a map.
The Smoke (n) – A big city
We are going to see a concert in the smoke next weekend. I love being in London.
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