3673 moon and sun idioms

In olden times people worshipped the
powers of Nature,--the sun, the moon, the planets,
the air, the storm, light, fire, the clouds, all
of which were supposed to exercise a mysterious
influence over human destiny. There was
doubtless an indefinite sense of awe in view of the
wonders of the material universe, extending
to a vague fear of some almighty supremacy over
all that could be seen or known.
To these powers of Nature ancient people
gave names, and made them divinities.
- ask for the moon
(to make outlandish requests or demands for something)
- moon something away
(to waste time pining or grieving)
- moon about someone or something
(to pine or grieve about someone or something)
- think someone hung the moon (and stars) or think someone is
God's own cousin
(to think someone is perfect)
- be over the moon
(to be extremely pleased about something)
- many moons ago
(a long time ago)
- reach for the moon/stars
(to try to achieve something that is very difficult)
- promise the moon
- go to(to
bed
with the
sun

promise
something
impossible)
(to go to
bed
early,
at
sunset)
- once in a blue moon
- there(almost
is nothing
new under the sun
never)
(everything that is happening now has happened before)
- think the sun rises and sets on someone
(to think someone is the most important person in the world)
- under the sun
(anywhere on earth at all)
- a/somebody's place in the sun
(a job or situation that makes you happy and that provides
you
with all the money and things that you want)
- make hay while the sun shines
(to do something while the situation or conditions are right)
- everything under the sun
(everything that exists or that you can imagine)
- catch the sun
(to become red or brown because of spending time in the
sun)
- the sun belt

(the southern U.S. states, where it is generally warm and
sunny)
- happy is the bride that the sun shines on
(it is supposed to be good luck for the sun to shine on a


Match the idioms with their definitions:
1) If you think the sun rises and sets on someone,
expectations and

a) you have high
standards
b) a time well before

2) If you are over the moon
the present
3) if you go to bed with the sun
keep your word
4) if you make hay while the sun shines
thing at the right

c) you can’t possibly
d) you do the right
time
e) you achieved a

5) if you try to reach for the moon
favourable position
6) if you earned your place in the sun
early riser!!!

7) the sun belt refers to
which is

f) you must be an
g) you ask something
unattainable
h) you think highly of

8) many moons ago means
someone
9) if you ask for the moon
happy
10) if you promise the moon
climate
1

2

3

i) you are extremely
j) states with a warm
4

5

6

7

8

9

1
0

Choose the correct idiom in the sentences below:
I want to retire over the moon/to the sunbelt, it’s the best place for a
sun lover like me.
Don’t moon the whole month away/make hay while the sun shines! It’s
no use crying for such nonsense!
Don’t reach for the moon/ask for the moon, Janet! Try to be reasonable!
Can you believe it? John has cheated in his Maths exam again!
Does it surprise you? There is nothing new under the sun/happy is the
bride that the sun shines on!
After a tough start, Jim finally asked for the moon/earned his place in
the sun.
Ann turns a deaf ear to all my criticisms, she thinks she makes no
mistakes
Yes, you’re right, she thinks the sun rises and sets on herself/over the
moon.
I’m desperate! Is there anyone under the sun/everything under the sun
who can solve this Maths problem?
I met James yesterday and we talked under the sun/everything under
the sun.


Answers
Exercise 1

1-h, 2-i, 3-f, 4-d, 5-a, 6-e, 7-j, 8-b, 9-g, 10-c
Exercise 2
To the sun belt
Moon the whole month away
Ask for the moon
There is nothing new under the sun
Earned his place in the sun
The sun rises and sets on herself
Under the sun
Everything under the sun
Many moons ago
Goes to bed with the sun
Over the moon
Promise us the moon