Look up and take a moment to marvel at the sky. Is it clear and bright, or covered in a blanket of clouds? Whatever the weather, today’s idioms are inspired by the endless skies above us. Let’s admire their beauty—and while we’re at it, expand our vocabulary with some sky-high expressions.
Even when the sky is filled with clouds, the sun still shines above. Unknown
Chasing Dreams Through Cloudy Skies
Sarah is on cloud nine (1)—today’s her first day at the new job she’s always wanted. It feels surreal, especially because the offer came out of the blue (2) just two weeks ago. Most people think she just got lucky, but in truth, she had been preparing for this moment for years.
Last week, her new manager warned her not to get overconfident, even though she was riding high (3) after impressing everyone during orientation. She knows he’s right; success can vanish as quickly as it appears.
Sure enough, a few days in, something goes wrong. A report she submitted contains a small error, and suddenly, it feels like the sky is falling (4). She walks around feeling anxious, with a cloud hanging over her head (5). But instead of panicking, she reminds herself to keep her head in the clouds and her feet on the ground (6)—to stay positive but grounded.
Eventually, the issue gets resolved, and she starts to see the silver lining (7). She knows that challenges are part of the process. “There will always be some stormy weather (8),” she tells a coworker over coffee, “but I’m not letting it stop me. I will grow from this.”
- To be on cloud nine – to be extremely happy/excited (see more “happy” idioms here)
- To come out of the blue – to happen suddenly and unexpectedly (more “colorful” idioms are here)
- To be riding high – to be very confident/happy, especially after a recent achievement
- To feel like the sky is falling – to feel like a situation is disastrous
- A cloud hanging over one’s head – a feeling of doom, sadness, or worry that lingers (more “sad” idioms are here)
- To keep one’s head in the clouds and one’s feet on the ground – to balance dreams with reality
- To see the silver lining – to find something positive in a bad or difficult situation
- Stormy weather – difficult times
Practice 1
Click the link here and complete the sentences with the right words.
Other Notable Idioms
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
| written in the sky | clear, obvious, or destined to happen | Their love felt like it was written in the sky, as if the universe had brought them together. |
| to build castles in the sky | to make unrealistic plans or dreams | He’s always building castles in the sky instead of focusing on practical goals. |
| There are blue skies ahead. | The future looks clear and free of obstacles. | After a rough year, there are blue skies ahead for the company. |
| under the same sky | a poetic way of saying we’re all connected despite distance or differences | Even though we’re miles apart, we sleep under the same sky. |
| to fall from the sky | to come out of the blue | He didn’t just fall from the sky—he’s been training for years. |
| to skyrocket | to increase rapidly or suddenly | After the viral video, her followers skyrocketed overnight. |
| The sky is the limit. | There is no limit to what someone can achieve. | With your talent, the sky’s the limit. |
| pie in the sky | a promise or plan that is unrealistic or unlikely to happen | His talk about building a floating city sounds like pie in the sky. |
| to reach for the sky | to go after big goals | Don’t settle for less—reach for the sky and follow your dreams. |
| sky-high | extremely high (often used for prices, expectations, or emotions) | Rent prices in the city are sky-high right now. |
Practice 2
Click the link here and type in the right words to complete the sentences.
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