From Under the Weather to Over the Moon: 4 Feeling Idioms

ENMartin, you do not look very happy today.

ENAre you all right?

ENI am fine emotionally, Julia.

ENI am just a little under the weather.

ENUnder the weather?

ENBut we are indoors.

ENVery funny.

ENIt means I am feeling slightly ill.

ENGood.

ENBecause I have news that may take you from under the weather... to over the moon.

ENThat is quite an emotional journey.

ENWelcome to Your English Toolbox and Practice Arena Five-Minute English.

ENI am Martin.

ENAnd I am Julia.

ENToday we are exploring lesson one of our free idioms course: Feelings and Emotions.

ENThe course is a clear path through twenty-five lessons and one hundred useful idioms. Each lesson introduces four expressions in a natural dialogue, then helps you understand their meanings, grammar, common mistakes, and real examples.

ENYou can listen at different speeds, practise with interactive activities, review older idioms, and download the lesson resources.

ENTo find it, visit Your English Toolbox dot com slash idioms, or open the direct link to the free course in this episode's description.

ENToday's four expressions are under the weather, down in the dumps, over the moon, and on cloud nine.

ENListen first, then practise with us.

ENSo, Julia, what is your big news?

ENFirst, tell me about your weekend.

ENYou cancelled dinner on Saturday.

ENYes.

ENI was under the weather, so I stayed at home.

ENWas it serious?

ENNo, just a headache and very little energy.

ENThat is important.

ENUnder the weather normally means slightly ill, not seriously ill.

ENWe often say, “I feel under the weather.”

ENI thought you were down in the dumps because your driving test did not go well.

ENI was.

ENDown in the dumps means unhappy, discouraged, or emotionally low.

ENSo under the weather describes health; down in the dumps describes mood.

ENThen I called you on Sunday with the news.

ENYes.

ENYou told me that I had passed the test after all.

ENThere had been a mistake with the results.

ENAnd suddenly?

ENI was over the moon.

ENMeaning extremely happy and excited.

ENYou also told me, “I am on cloud nine.”

ENI did.

ENOn cloud nine also means extremely happy.

ENMartin, are over the moon and on cloud nine exactly the same?

ENThey are very close.

ENBoth express intense happiness.

ENWe can say, “She was over the moon when she got the job.” Or, “She was on cloud nine.”

ENNotice the grammar.

ENWe say, “I am over the moon.”

ENAnd, “I am on cloud nine.” No article.

ENNot “on the cloud nine.”

ENTime for a quick challenge.

ENSay the best idiom before Julia answers.

ENSituation one.

ENYou have a cold, but it is not serious.

ENUnder the weather.

ENSituation two.

ENYour friend feels sad and discouraged after failing an exam.

ENDown in the dumps.

ENSituation three.

ENYou receive wonderful news and feel extremely happy.

ENOver the moon.

ENOn cloud nine could work too.

ENSometimes English gives us more than one natural answer.

ENFinal situation.

ENComplete the sentence: “Since the wedding, they have been...”

ENOn cloud nine.

ENNow think about this week.

ENHave you been under the weather or down in the dumps?

ENOr has something left you over the moon or on cloud nine?

ENComplete one sentence aloud: “This week, I have been blank because blank.”

ENQuick recap.

ENUnder the weather means slightly ill.

ENDown in the dumps means sad or discouraged.

ENOver the moon and on cloud nine both mean extremely happy.

ENContinue with Idioms Lesson One, Feelings and Emotions, through the direct link in this episode's description.

ENFour expressions.

ENOne emotional journey.

ENAbout five minutes of clear Slow English.

ENSee you next time.

ENAnd Martin, get some rest.

ENI will.

ENBut passing that test still has me on cloud nine.