STORMS BLOW OVER

When we say that a storm has “blown over,” we mean that it has gone or faded away.

 As with the idiom “a storm in a teacup,” we use a storm as an analogy for trouble when we say that a situation will “blow over,” indicating that it will fade away without serious consequences.

 Examples of use:

 “But he predicted many institutions ‘are probably just hoping the furore will blow over.’”

 “If the daily news cycle leaves you wanting to batten down the hatches and wait for it all to blow over, you’re far from alone.”

 (This quote includes yet another storm-related idiom, “batten down the hatches,” which means to prepare for a crisis.)

 “Hopefully this wave of speculation can soon blow over and Neil’s name can stay clear of the gossip columns.”



 The phrase “blow over” also appears in other contexts:

 “As the day moves on, the storm will begin to blow over, and the warnings are due to expire by 3pm.” (The phrase is used literally here to describe a physical storm.)

 “Helen Jones and campaigners suffer blow over Peel Hall” (In this headline, a “blow” symbolises bad news.)

 “Residents are warned to be alert for flying debris, and for high-profile vehicles that could blow over.” (To “blow over” in this context means to fall over due to the force of the wind.)



Photo credit: mrpbps

A STORM IN A TEACUP

Continuing the weather theme, the idiom “a storm in a teacup” is used to describe great excitement or outrage over something trivial.

 Examples of use:

 “You could be forgiven for thinking the whole furore was a storm in a teacup.”

 “Cleveland Golf Club captain, Martin Flemming, told Teesside Live the incident was merely a ‘storm in a teacup’ and that it is common practice for staff to shout if someone is in potential danger on the course.”

 “A trader is fuming about replacement tropical tree planters near his business, but the head of Penzance BID has branded the matter ‘a storm in a teacup.’”


 The phrase apparently dates back to the 19th century, although a similar phrase, “a storm in a cream bowl” dates back to the 1670s [1].


 The North American version of this phrase “a tempest in a teapot” is also regularly used.

 e.g. “It was a tempest in a teapot. There was no excess of any eye problem in those patients.”


 [1] Cresswell, Julia. “tea” in The Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins. Oxford University Press, 2009.

 Photo credit: Petra Bensted