How do you use "Coming up a cloud" in a sentence?

Better get the laundry off the line — it's coming up a cloud. We should head inside, it's coming up a cloud over yonder. Look at that sky — it's been coming up a cloud all afternoon.

Coming up a cloud

Q: What does "Coming up a cloud" mean?

A storm is approaching; dark clouds are gathering. This old Southern expression means storm clouds are building and bad weather is on the way. Southerners, especially in rural areas, are acutely attuned to weather, and this phrase captures the moment when you look at the sky and realize it's about to pour.

American Slang Term American ★★☆☆☆ Uncommon informal

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Meaning: A storm is approaching; dark clouds are gathering.

暴风雨要来了；乌云正在聚集。

Se acerca una tormenta; se están formando nubes oscuras.

嵐が近づいている、暗い雲が集まっている。

폭풍이 다가오고 있다, 먹구름이 모이고 있다.

This old Southern expression means storm clouds are building and bad weather is on the way. Southerners, especially in rural areas, are acutely attuned to weather, and this phrase captures the moment when you look at the sky and realize it's about to pour.

这是一个古老的南方表达，意思是暴风云正在聚集，坏天气即将来临。南方人，尤其是农村地区的人，对天气非常敏感，这个短语捕捉的就是你抬头看天，意识到马上要下大雨的那一刻。

Esta antigua expresión sureña significa que se están acumulando nubarrones y que se avecina mal tiempo. Los sureños, especialmente en las zonas rurales, están muy atentos al tiempo, y esta frase capta el momento en que miras al cielo y te das cuenta de que va a llover a cántaros.

この古い南部の表現は、嵐雲が発達して悪天候が近づいていることを意味する。特に農村部の南部の人たちは天気にとても敏感で、空を見上げてもうすぐ雨が降ると気づく瞬間をこの表現が捉えている。

이 오래된 남부 표현은 먹구름이 형성되고 있고 악천후가 다가오고 있다는 뜻이다. 남부 사람들, 특히 시골 지역 사람들은 날씨에 매우 민감하며, 이 표현은 하늘을 올려다보고 곧 비가 쏟아지겠다고 깨닫는 순간을 포착한다.

Examples

Better get the laundry off the line — it's coming up a cloud.
赶紧把衣服收进来——天要变了。
Mejor recoger la ropa tendida — se está nublando.
洗濯物を取り込んだ方がいいよ——雲行きが怪しくなってきた。
빨래를 걷어들이는 게 좋겠어 — 먹구름이 몰려오고 있어.
We should head inside, it's coming up a cloud over yonder.
我们该进屋了，那边乌云都压过来了。
Deberíamos entrar, se está nublando por allí.
中に入った方がいいよ、あっちの方に雲が出てきてるから。
안으로 들어가는 게 좋겠어, 저쪽에 구름이 끼기 시작했어.
Look at that sky — it's been coming up a cloud all afternoon.
看看那天——整个下午乌云一直在聚集。
Mira ese cielo — lleva toda la tarde poniéndose feo.
あの空を見て——午後ずっと雲が広がってきてるよ。
저 하늘 좀 봐 — 오후 내내 구름이 몰려오고 있어.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: weather, warnings, outdoor activities

Tone: practical, cautious

✓ Do Say

It's coming up a cloud out there.
外面天要变了。
Se está nublando ahí fuera.
外の雲行きが怪しくなってきたよ。
밖에 먹구름이 몰려오고 있어.
Look — coming up a cloud.
看——乌云上来了。
Mira — se está poniendo feo.
見て——雲が出てきてる。
봐 — 구름이 끼고 있어.

✗ Don't Say

Primarily used by older and rural Southerners — younger generations may not recognize it
主要是年长的和农村的南方人使用——年轻一代可能不认识这个表达
La usan principalmente sureños mayores y de zonas rurales — las generaciones jóvenes podrían no reconocerla
主に年配の人や農村部の南部の人が使う——若い世代には通じないかもしれない
주로 나이 든 남부 사람들이나 시골 사람들이 사용 — 젊은 세대는 알아듣지 못할 수 있다

Origin & History

A rural Southern expression born from agricultural communities where reading the weather was essential. Before modern forecasting, farmers relied on observing cloud formations, making this phrase a practical weather alert.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional

Generation: Older adults

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Rural South, farming communities