The famously changeable Dutch weather has left its mark on the language. Het regent pijpenstelen (it rains pipe-stems — raining cats and dogs). Iemand in de regen laten staan (to leave someone standing in the rain — to leave someone in the lurch, to abandon them). Na regen komt zonneschijn (after rain comes sunshine — every cloud has a silver lining). Met alle winden meewaaien (to blow with all winds — to be a chameleon, to opportunistically change your position).
Wind idioms: de wind uit de zeilen nemen (to take the wind from the sails — to undermine someone), weten van welke kant de wind waait (to know which way the wind is blowing — to know how the situation stands), iemand de wind van voren geven (to give someone the wind from the front — to give someone a piece of your mind, to scold them sharply), als het hard waait, heeft de molen genoeg aan één zeil (when the wind blows hard, the mill has enough with one sail — moderate your efforts to circumstances).
Sun and cold expressions: in de zon zitten (to sit in the sun — to be well-off, to have it good), kouwe druiven (cold grapes — a disappointment, a letdown — said when an expected positive outcome does not materialise), het vriezen en dooien (freezing and thawing — alternating between extremes, being inconsistent). Weather idioms in Dutch are vivid and widely used in everyday conversation — mastering a few will impress native speakers immediately.