Wind Idioms

Thinking Politics, Feeling Better

The wind is roaring down Boulder Canyon tonight. Once the wind passes through the mouth of the canyon, it hits the flatlands full force and dissipates into a wall of wind that whistles around the house for a few minutes causing no damage.

Big winds are normal here in the winter, with an occasional 100 mile an hour burst. Usually the high winds cause minor damage such as tree limbs crashing into roofs or garbage cans tumbling down the street. Nonetheless, the winds put us on edge. Four years ago high winds combined with a fire to create a firestorm that incinerated more than 1,000 homes in the county.

I’m on edge about the wind as well as where this country is headed. So to help me better understand the new administration, I’ve searched for common wind idioms, written some definitions, and provided examples.

Winds of Change. A period of fluctuation, turbulence, and even transformation from what exists to something different. Such as: a significant number of Americans felt a real desire for change in this last election. That they voted for a person who proved his incompetence in his first term is regrettable, and that millions didn’t vote at all is irresponsible.

Windbag. An obstreperous person who talks a lot who doesn’t say anything of value. Such as: ( Fill in the blank.)

Knock the Wind Out of Your Sails. To lose confidence. Such as: our faith in the leadership of both major political parties.

Get the Wind Up. A deep-seated fear and nervousness. Such as: recognizing that the president is not only a grifter, but possibly a sociopath who has shown signs of dementia.

Get Wind Of. The understanding or at least suspecting that something bad is about to happen. Such as: complete administrative chaos both nationally and internationally.

Throw Caution to the Wind. To act without regard to consequences or collateral damage. Such as: across the board tariffs.

Close to the Wind. To push to the limit of a situation, particularly legal or moral. Such as: signing an executive order that is clearly unconstitutional or separating migrant families at the border.

As the Wind Blows. Decisions made and actions taken based on limited information acquired over the short term. Such as: the 2016-2020 administration.

Beat the Wind. Think of Don Quixote and the windmills, in other words an impossible task. Such as: trying to make sense of grievance and retribution as a method of governing in a republic.

Candle in the Wind. Something fragile that that needs careful attention and care. Such as: our belief in ourselves as a decent people, who once we have tried everything else, do the right thing.

Twist in the Wind. To find oneself in a difficult and uncertain situation. Such as: not having confidence in the future of our republic or the rule of law.

See Which Way the Wind Blows. For a person to gather information, particularly strongly held opinions of powerful people who can be of benefit to that person. Such as: think of the opportunism of J.D. Vance calling Trump reprehensible in 2016 and now serving as his Vice President.

Wind at Your Back. An advantageous event or situation. Such as: midterm elections in 2026 where there is a fair to good chance that the new administration will lose control of both houses of Congress. Sidebar, this idiom is also an Irish salutation, “May the wind at your back not be your own.”

Gone Like the Wind. An object or person who mysteriously disappears. Such as: anyone in the new administration who even whispers that it is time to invoke the 25th Amendment. Gone and disappeared.

Bend With the Wind. The zen idea that we flow around the rock instead of trying to pour over it. Such as: not flailing about and wringing our hands, but adapting to the new administration and choosing our battles.

Gales of Laughter. Very loud uproarious laughter. Such as: when we think about most of the new administration’s cabinet picks.

Break Wind. See Wind at Your Back above.

Second Wind. A regaining of strength in a difficult situation. Such as: what it will take for American politics to move to the center again.

Blowhard. See Windbag above.

Ill Wind. A bad situation that has a positive outcome. Such as: the ineptness and corruption of the new administration brings on a new era of competent, centrist governance, not just for the disaffected loudmouths and extraordinarily rich, but for all of us

What we know is that the wind always ends, even in the mountains, foothills, and the prairies of the West. What comes after is a quiet, peaceful time.

I am alanstark1@substack.com