In the UK, we really like talking about the weather. It's a great way to break the ice at the beginning of conversations or when there’s an awkward gap to fill. It’s the perfect small talk subject and can get you out of some tricky conversations or awkward silences!
At this time of year, the weather is very changeable. Sometimes it's still snowing or icy, other times it feels like summer has arrived early. As a result, it's the perfect time to try out some new slang, idioms, and adjectives in English to describe the weather in a more expressive way.
Here are some phrases and expressions to help you talk about the weather.
Snow & Cold
Is it still cold or perhaps even still snowy where you live? Here are some key phrases to describe cold and snowy weather:
It's (absolutely) freezing. = extremely cold
It's bitterly cold. = extremely cold
It's snowing heavily. = snowing a lot
The roads are treacherous. = the roads are covered with ice / icy patches which makes them very dangerous
Is the snow starting to melt and the snow turning to rain? You'll need these words and phrases:
The snow is thawing. = the snow is melting
It's sleeting. = partly melted falling snow
The road/pavement is slushy/covered in slush. = slush is the wet, partially melted snow or ice which is often wet and muddy
Wet & Rainy
It can rain a lot in spring. We often talk about "April Showers". Here are some essential words for describing the rain!
It's drizzling. = drizzle is a light rain falling in very small drops
It's absolutely throwing it down out there! = raining very heavily
It's absolutely chucking it down. = raining very heavily
It's very overcast. = overcast means the sky is grey and cloudy
It's just a (passing) shower. = it won't rain for a long time and will soon stop
It's damp. = the air is wet and cold
Warm & Sunny
If you're lucky enough to be getting some early sunny days, here are some ways to express your happiness and surprise (English people are always slightly astonished by the weather).
It's unusually mild for this time of year. = mild means a little bit warm
It's not as cold as you'd expect. = It's a bit warmer than average or it feels warmer than the grey, overcast sky would lead you to believe.
It’s surprisingly warm for the time of year. = It's a bit warmer than average.
It's practically t-shirt weather! = it's warm enough to make you consider wearing a t-shirt. In the north of England and Scotland, we often joke that this is at almost any temperature above freezing.
Spring's in the air. = it's warming up, the sun is shining, the birds are singing...and it feels like Spring is on its way
If you want to know more about making small talk in English while you are in the UK or chatting with some Brits in your country, see our earlier blog post about making small talk the British way. You'll soon be speaking in English!
One last tip...
Our self-study workbooks include some great topics for small-talk (or more in-depth talks) with friends or colleagues. Each workbook includes a real-world English article, audio file, or video you can use to build your vocabulary and confidence. Never worry about what to chat about again!
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