Have you ever felt the wind push against you when you walk outside? Sometimes it’s strong, sometimes it’s soft. People often talk about the wind in ways that sound fun or interesting. They don’t just say “It’s windy.” Instead, they use special sayings called idioms.
Idioms are short phrases that mean something different from the words they use. When people talk about wind using idioms, they may be talking about change, fast movement, or even talking too much. In this article, we’ll look at idioms about wind that people use every day. These sayings can help you sound more natural and understand others better. Let’s explore these wind idioms together and see what they really mean.
Idioms for Wind
1. Get wind of something
Meaning: To hear a secret or news.
Within a Sentence: I got wind of the surprise party. / She got wind of the big announcement.
In Other Words: Heard about / Found out / Learned something
2. Throw caution to the wind
Meaning: To stop being careful.
Within a Sentence: He threw caution to the wind and jumped into the pool. / She threw caution to the wind and tried the spicy taco.
In Other Words: Take a risk / Do something wild / Be bold
3. In the wind
Meaning: Something is about to happen.
Within a Sentence: Change is in the wind at our school. / A big storm is in the wind.
In Other Words: Coming soon / Something’s brewing / About to happen
4. Gone with the Wind
Meaning: Something disappeared or ended quickly.
Within a Sentence: My balloon was gone with the wind. / His chance was gone with the wind.
In Other Words: Vanished / Lost / Over quickly
5. Second wind
Meaning: New energy after being tired.
Within a Sentence: I got my second wind during gym class. / After resting, she got her second wind.
In Other Words: Energy boost / Feeling better / Ready again
6. Wind up
Meaning: To end something.
Within a Sentence: We need to wind up the game. / Let’s wind up the project before lunch.
In Other Words: Finish / Wrap up / Bring to an end
7. Take the wind out of someone’s sails
Meaning: To make someone lose confidence.
Within a Sentence: Her comment took the wind out of my sails. / Losing the match took the wind out of his sails.
In Other Words: Discourage / Bring down / Hurt feelings
8. Run like the wind
Meaning: To run very fast.
Within a Sentence: He ran like the wind in the race. / I ran like the wind to catch the bus.
In Other Words: Super fast / Quick like lightning / Zoomed
9. Break wind
Meaning: To pass gas.
Within a Sentence: He laughed so hard he broke wind. / The dog broke wind and everyone laughed.
In Other Words: Fart / Pass gas / Make a smell
10. Wind someone up
Meaning: To tease or annoy someone.
Within a Sentence: My brother winds me up with silly jokes. / Don’t wind her up before her test.
In Other Words: Bug / Tease / Make upset
11. Know which way the wind is blowing
Meaning: To understand what’s going on.
Within a Sentence: Before speaking, he checked which way the wind was blowing. / She always knows which way the wind is blowing at school.
In Other Words: Pay attention / Read the room / Understand the mood
12. Scatter to the winds
Meaning: To spread out in all directions.
Within a Sentence: The leaves scattered to the winds. / The papers scattered to the winds during recess.
In Other Words: Fly everywhere / Spread out / Go all over
13. Wind of change
Meaning: Feeling that something big is about to change.
Within a Sentence: There’s a wind of change in the class rules. / A wind of change is coming to our town.
In Other Words: Big changes / New start / Something’s different
14. Sail close to the wind
Meaning: To do something risky or almost wrong.
Within a Sentence: She sailed close to the wind by skipping homework. / He sailed close to the wind with his prank.
In Other Words: Take a chance / Be risky / Almost in trouble
15. Get winded
Meaning: To lose your breath.
Within a Sentence: I got winded after running the track. / He was winded from climbing the stairs.
In Other Words: Out of breath / Tired / Need air
16. Whistle in the wind
Meaning: To try something that won’t work.
Within a Sentence: Arguing with him is like whistling in the wind. / Asking for candy before dinner is whistling in the wind.
In Other Words: Waste of time / Won’t help / Useless
17. Wind down
Meaning: To relax after being busy.
Within a Sentence: I wind down by reading before bed. / She winds down with music.
In Other Words: Relax / Chill out / Take a break
18. Windbag
Meaning: Someone who talks too much.
Within a Sentence: Uncle Joe is a windbag at family dinners. / That teacher’s a bit of a windbag.
In Other Words: Talkative / Blabbermouth / Can’t stop talking
19. Blow someone away
Meaning: To impress or surprise someone.
Within a Sentence: His singing blew us away. / That magician blew the kids away.
In Other Words: Surprise / Amaze / Really impress
20. Into the wind
Meaning: Facing difficulty or resistance.
Within a Sentence: It felt like we were walking into the wind. / Trying to fix it felt like going into the wind.
In Other Words: Hard work / Facing trouble / Tough
21. As quick as the wind
Meaning: Very fast.
Within a Sentence: The rabbit moved as quick as the wind. / She was gone as quick as the wind.
In Other Words: Super fast / Zoom / Blink and gone
22. Whisper on the wind
Meaning: A soft, unclear message.
Within a Sentence: I heard a whisper on the wind from across the field. / His words felt like a whisper on the wind.
In Other Words: Very quiet / Not sure / Faint sound
23. A windfall
Meaning: A surprise gain or gift.
Within a Sentence: Finding $10 was a windfall. / The prize was a windfall for her.
In Other Words: Lucky find / Bonus / Extra treat
24. Blow hot and cold
Meaning: To change moods or opinions often.
Within a Sentence: He blows hot and cold about the party. / She blows hot and cold with her friends.
In Other Words: Not steady / Changes mind / On and off
25. Spit into the wind
Meaning: To do something pointless.
Within a Sentence: Complaining to him is like spitting into the wind. / It’s like spitting into the wind to argue with the ref.
In Other Words: Won’t work / Waste of effort / No use
26. Four sheets to the wind
Meaning: Very drunk.
Within a Sentence: He was four sheets to the wind after the party. / She looked four sheets to the wind.
In Other Words: Drunk / Wobbly / Not thinking straight
27. Catch the wind
Meaning: Try something impossible.
Within a Sentence: Trying to stop her was like catching the wind. / Catching the wind is easier than finding my keys.
In Other Words: Too hard / Impossible / Can’t be done
28. Build castles in the wind
Meaning: Have dreams that may not come true.
Within a Sentence: He builds castles in the wind about being famous. / She’s building castles in the wind again.
In Other Words: Big dreamer / Not realistic / Hoping too much
29. Like the wind
Meaning: Moving very fast.
Within a Sentence: He zipped by like the wind. / She left the room like the wind.
In Other Words: Fast / Gone quick / Zooming
30. Wind at your back
Meaning: Everything is going well.
Within a Sentence: With the wind at our back, we finished early. / She ran faster with the wind at her back.
In Other Words: Things going right / Helpful push / Easy time
31. Wind up in trouble
Meaning: To end up doing something bad.
Within a Sentence: He didn’t study and wound up in trouble. / You’ll wind up in trouble if you lie.
In Other Words: Get caught / Have problems / Be in a mess
32. Throw something to the wind
Meaning: To ignore something.
Within a Sentence: He threw his homework to the wind. / She threw the rules to the wind.
In Other Words: Ignore / Forget / Not care
33. Ride the wind
Meaning: To go with excitement or freedom.
Within a Sentence: She rode the wind on her bike. / He felt like he was riding the wind in the roller coaster.
In Other Words: Enjoy the ride / Feel free / Have fun
34. Lost in the wind
Meaning: Missing or forgotten.
Within a Sentence: My note got lost in the wind. / His ideas were lost in the wind.
In Other Words: Gone / Not found / Forgotten
35. Wind storm
Meaning: A wild or fast event.
Within a Sentence: The classroom turned into a wind storm during the game. / It was a wind storm of noise and laughter.
In Other Words: Chaos / Busy scene / Lots happening
36. Fan the wind
Meaning: To make trouble worse.
Within a Sentence: His yelling fanned the wind of the fight. / Don’t fan the wind when people are angry.
In Other Words: Make worse / Add to problem / Stir things up
37. Blown away
Meaning: Amazed or shocked.
Within a Sentence: I was blown away by the magic trick. / She was blown away by the gift.
In Other Words: Surprised / Very impressed / Shocked
38. Whipped by the wind
Meaning: Moved quickly by force.
Within a Sentence: Her hair was whipped by the wind. / The papers were whipped by the wind.
In Other Words: Thrown around / Moved fast / Blown hard
39. Windy path
Meaning: A hard or not straight journey.
Within a Sentence: The trail was a windy path to the top. / His story took a windy path.
In Other Words: Twisty / Not easy / Long way
40. Winds of time
Meaning: How time changes things.
Within a Sentence: The winds of time changed our town. / The winds of time took away the old playground.
In Other Words: Time passes / Things change / Nothing stays
41. Stir the wind
Meaning: Start trouble or action.
Within a Sentence: He stirred the wind with his prank. / Her words stirred the wind of a big fight.
In Other Words: Start something / Make noise / Cause drama
42. Wind-chimes of gossip
Meaning: Talk that spreads like wind.
Within a Sentence: The hallway was full of wind-chimes of gossip. / Her secret became wind-chimes of gossip.
In Other Words: People talking / News spreading / Rumors
43. Drift with the wind
Meaning: Go along with things without a plan.
Within a Sentence: He just drifted with the wind after graduation. / She drifted with the wind and went to camp.
In Other Words: Go with the flow / No plan / Let it happen
44. Blow over
Meaning: A problem that goes away.
Within a Sentence: The fight blew over after lunch. / The mess will blow over soon.
In Other Words: End / Fade / Calm down
45. Swallowed by the wind
Meaning: Something taken away completely.
Within a Sentence: My hat was swallowed by the wind. / The paper got swallowed by the wind.
In Other Words: Gone / Lost / Carried away
46. Wind break
Meaning: A rest or stop.
Within a Sentence: We took a wind break under the tree. / Let’s take a wind break before biking more.
In Other Words: Pause / Stop / Rest time
47. Wild as the wind
Meaning: Very free or untamed.
Within a Sentence: His idea was wild as the wind. / She danced wild as the wind.
In Other Words: Crazy / Fun / Uncontrolled
48. Windproof
Meaning: Not bothered by trouble.
Within a Sentence: She stayed windproof during the test. / He was windproof when kids teased him.
In Other Words: Strong / Not shaken / Calm
49. Blow out
Meaning: A sudden ending.
Within a Sentence: The light blew out in the storm. / Their fun blew out when the power went out.
In Other Words: Stop fast / End / Go dark
50. Catch the wind in your hair
Meaning: Feel free and happy.
Within a Sentence: I caught the wind in my hair on the boat. / She loves catching the wind in her hair on the swings.
In Other Words: Feel alive / Be joyful / Fun feeling
51. Gone on the wind
Meaning: Left and not coming back.
Within a Sentence: The sound was gone on the wind. / His words were gone on the wind.
In Other Words: Lost / Passed / Not heard
52. Wind whisper
Meaning: A soft voice or sound.
Within a Sentence: The wind whispered through the trees. / I heard a wind whisper of my name.
In Other Words: Soft noise / Gentle sound / Quiet
53. Ride the wind home
Meaning: Return with joy or speed.
Within a Sentence: He rode the wind home after practice. / They rode the wind home on their bikes.
In Other Words: Hurry home / Happy return / Quick ride
54. Wind signal
Meaning: A sign that something is changing.
Within a Sentence: Her face was a wind signal of trouble. / That noise was a wind signal to stop.
In Other Words: Warning / Sign / Something’s up
55. Lost to the wind
Meaning: Forgotten or gone.
Within a Sentence: My dream was lost to the wind. / The message was lost to the wind.
In Other Words: Disappeared / Not found / Missed
56. Catching the wind’s tail
Meaning: Almost caught something.
Within a Sentence: He caught the wind’s tail of the bus. / She caught the wind’s tail of the last note.
In Other Words: Just made it / Barely / Close one
57. Blow with the wind
Meaning: Go along with others.
Within a Sentence: He blows with the wind in group talks. / She blows with the wind in class.
In Other Words: Follows others / No strong opinion / Goes along
58. Wind voice
Meaning: A voice that is hard to hear.
Within a Sentence: He spoke in a wind voice during the speech. / Her wind voice faded in the hallway.
In Other Words: Quiet / Soft / Barely heard
59. Windy excuse
Meaning: A weak or silly reason.
Within a Sentence: That’s just a windy excuse. / His windy excuse didn’t work on the teacher.
In Other Words: Not believable / Weak reason / Silly excuse
60. Blow your words into the wind
Meaning: Say something that no one listens to.
Within a Sentence: I blew my words into the wind at the meeting. / She blew her words into the wind during the game.
In Other Words: Ignored / Not heard / Talked for nothing
True/False Quiz – Idioms for Wind
1. “Run like the wind” means to walk slowly.
True / False
2. If you “get wind of something,” you have found out a secret.
True / False
3. “Throw caution to the wind” means to be extra careful.
True / False
4. If someone is a “windbag,” they don’t like to talk.
True / False
5. “Catch the wind” means to grab something with your hands.
True / False
6. “Second wind” means feeling tired and giving up.
True / False
7. “Wind down” means to calm down or relax.
True / False
8. “Blown away” means you are shocked or impressed.
True / False
9. If something “blows over,” it means the problem is still going on.
True / False
10. “Wind at your back” means things are going smoothly.
True / False
11. “Like the wind” means someone moves very fast.
True / False
12. “Spit into the wind” means to do something that will probably not work.
True / False
13. A “windy excuse” is a strong, smart reason.
True / False
14. “Gone with the wind” means something stayed in one place.
True / False
15. If you “ride the wind home,” you’re walking very slowly.
True / False
Answer Key
- False
- True
- False
- False
- False
- False
- True
- True
- False
- True
- True
- True
- False
- False
- False
Scoring Guide
- 15 Correct Answers: Wind Idioms Master!
- 10–14 Correct Answers: You really get Wind Idioms, nice work!
- 6–9 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
- 0–5 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about Wind Idioms together!
Conclusion
Idioms about wind help people describe actions, feelings, and ideas in fun and smart ways. Saying “run like the wind” is more exciting than just saying “run fast.” These sayings also help us understand what others mean, even if their words sound unusual.
Now that you’ve seen lots of wind idioms, try using them in school, with friends, or at home. It makes your words more interesting. Just like the wind, these idioms can move your language in cool new directions.
