Brass monkey weather
Definitions
Extremely cold weather
To describe a very low temperature or a harsh and bitter cold that is difficult to bear.To express discomfort or displeasure
Can be used to express one's dislike or frustration with a situation or event, often emphasizing the intensity of the feeling.
Examples of Brass monkey weather
When the chill in the air turned everyone's fingers and toes into icicles, our friend sarcastically said, "Well, it's certainly brass monkey weather out here."
The idiom "brass monkey weather" refers to extremely cold weather, where even the monkeys' (i.e., humans') testicles would freeze. This idiom originated from an erroneous belief that the testicles of a monkey would literally fall off in very cold weather. Although this belief is a myth, the idiom persists and is still used commonly to describe very cold weather.
As we huddled under our thick coats and scarves, the wind howled and the temperature dropped below zero, our friend quipped, "I think we're officially living in brass monkey weather."
The second example elaborates on the first, where our friend acknowledges the cold conditions surrounding us. The statement, "I think we're officially living in brass monkey weather," means that the cold weather is so extreme that even fictional monkeys' testicles would freeze.
The morning commute turned into a nightmare as the snowflakes transformed into tiny icicles, freezing everything they touched. The driver of our bus shivered as she announced that it was "brass monkey weather" on the news this morning.
In this third example, the driver uses the idiom to describe the weather conditions in such a way that everyone understands the severity of the cold. The use of the phrase "on the news this morning" intensifies the impact of the statement -- implying that the weather is not just severe, but dangerous.
As the snowstorm raged outside, our friend wrapped himself in several layers of clothing and grumbled, "I hate brass monkey weather, it makes you feel like a kid in a candy store with frozen fingers."
In our final example, our friend creatively uses the idiom to describe not just the severity of the weather, but the difficulty in completing everyday tasks. By comparing his frozen fingers to a child at a candy store, he highlights the frustration that comes with extreme cold weather. This use of the idiom gives us a clearer understanding of how the weather affects individuals at a personal level.
Despite the brass monkey weather, the little league baseball team soldiered on with the game.
This idiom is used to describe very cold weather, so cold that it could make the monkey's brass (or bronze) testicles freeze. Here, the little league baseball team endured the extreme coldness and continued their baseball game.
The outdoor concert was canceled due to brass monkey weather.
This idiom is used in this situation to describe the weather conditions that rendered the outdoor venue impossible for the concert to proceed. The performers and audience were forced to wait for better weather or move the concert indoors.
The brass monkeys on the team didn't seem to mind the frigid temperatures during practice.
This idiom is used here to show that those who were part of the team were unaffected by the intensely cold weather conditions. The brass monkeys are portrayed as tough individuals who can bear extreme cold without any apparent reactions. In this instance, the brass monkeys were players on the team, who were performing their drills despite the cold weather.
Brass monkey weather, they said, but we still rode the subway home without a hitch.
This idiom is used to describe extreme coldness that could possibly freeze objects like testicles made of brass or bronze. In this example, the speaker and their fellow travelers rode the subway against the backdrop of such weather conditions, demonstrating their ability to endure and overcome challenges posed by harsh weather.
Conclusion
The idiom "brass monkey weather" is mainly used to describe extremely cold weather, but it can also be used to express discomfort or displeasure in a situation. It conveys a sense of intense cold or discomfort, and is often used to emphasize the severity of the situation.Origin of "Brass monkey weather"
The origin of this idiom is uncertain, but there are a few theories about its origins. One theory suggests that it comes from the naval term "brass monkey", which refers to a brass holder used to stack cannonballs on ships. In extremely cold weather, the metal would contract and the cannonballs would fall off, hence the phrase "cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey". However, there is little evidence to support this theory.
Another theory suggests that the idiom comes from the practice of using brass monkey figurines on ships as a way to keep track of the temperature. When it was cold, the figurines' tails would break off due to the contraction of the metal, giving an indication of how cold it was. However, there is also little evidence to support this theory.
Overall, the exact origin of the idiom "brass monkey weather" remains a mystery, but it is believed to have originated in the 19th century. Its usage has evolved over time, and it is now commonly used to describe any type of extreme cold weather or discomfort.