Brass monkey weather has finally arrived which means it has gone flipping cold. If you have never heard of the expression, brass monkey weather, this is what it means.
‘Brass Monkey Weather’ refers to very cold weather that is extremely out of the ordinary; cold enough to freeze the tail, nose and ears of a brass monkey.
Mild Weather
Up to now, the weather this Winter has been very mild. However, while I enjoy anything 20C or above It has been cloudy with that greyness that hangs around for far too long that makes everyone miserable. Yesterday, after what seemed like many years since the sun put in an appearance, we awoke to beautiful blue skies (when the mist cleared) and sub-zero temperatures.
Lovely Day
I had to admit, it was a beautiful day and so I decided that a good walk was on the cards to clear the cobwebs away. The wife said to me in her best school headmistress voice, (not that she ever was a teacher), ‘you better wrap up warm, it’s freezing out there!’ So it was, big coat, woolly hat, scarf and thermal gloves and away we went.
Unimpressed Sheep
She wasn’t wrong. It was bloomin’ freezing. Although we waited until mid-afternoon before setting off, there were still parts of the countryside that hadn’t thawed out all day. The sun was blazing away, low in the sky, but there was very little heat coming from it. Usually, we bump into one or two fellow walkers on our short one-mile walk, but today, we didn’t see a soul. There were a few sheep in the fields, but they didn’t seem too impressed with us.
Older and Colder
As always, I enjoyed getting out in the fresh air and exercising my legs and lungs. I just didn’t enjoy the brass monkey weather. It used to be far colder than this when I was growing up, I remember the snow and ice lasting for months and even the sea freezing in the harbour at Margate about 1963. It must be something to do with age, getting older we don’t like it colder!
If you’re interested in phrases and their origins, Ginger is an interesting website:
Older and colder I do not like! And, I grew up in the north riding snowmobiles at -30F… ????????
Thank you John. -30F, that is cold!!!!
Ah… memories! I remember buses getting stuck in the snow and walking home in blizzards that stung your eyes. At the opposite end, there were pavements on the street where we played that were so hot they burnt your bare feet!
Then living here the lane required the snow plough numerous times in winter because of snow drifts, after that a farmer round the corner would come up and clear our driveway with his tractor plough. ????
Thank you, Sue. I remember the buses getting stuck and cars disappearing under the snow for days on end. Those hot pavements and you had to be careful not to tread on a manhole cover in bare feet! Thank you, Sue. ????
I see you’ve gone with the American derivation rather than the British Naval one!
I can’t say I knew there was a difference? Thank you, Peter ????
Quite the difference Trev.
The story goes that cannonballs used to be stored aboard ship in piles, on a brass frame or tray called a ‘monkey’. In very cold weather the brass would contract, spilling the cannonballs: hence very cold weather is ‘cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey’.
Thank you, June. I never knew that. ????
After your very colorful hand knitwear perhaps your dresser may knit you a pair of long Johns Trev for your next post. ????????
Haha, now there’s a thought. Thank you Kindness, but I think they would be a little itchy. ????
You are right, it used to be so much colder. Here too, years ago. Now that I am retired and can spend most of the day warm indoors, I love Winter weather. When I was working and had to be outdoors a lot I was less enthused. It’s warmer here today but with howling gale it feels bitter. 1963…I remember that beastly Winter only too well!
Thank you, Yeti. The winter of 1963 is forever etched in my mind. It was cold, snow everywhere and it seemed to last forever. Thank you ????
Love the “Brass Monkey Weather” phrase. Here in Chicago, we endured a long stretch of BMW, but have enjoyed sunshine and highs of 4C for the past few days. Positively balmy!
Thank you, Jim and stay warm. ????
I aspire to a ‘headmistress voice’, along with a withering stare. Finally some chill and cloudless summer sun here, too – for a few minutes…
Ooh, the headmistress voice always scares me! Stay warm and thank you. ????
Sounds like some of the Wisconsin winters I grew up in. Brrrr…
Thanks for the link to Ginger. Looks interesting.
Thank you, Herb, you welcome about the Ginger link. Some good fun there. ????
“Flipping cold” yep!
Yep, indeed. Thank you 🙂
You do look very warm and dressed for this grey, foggy, cold monkey weather. I thought it was warm where monkeys live. I grew up much further north and every winter we skated on the sea – far out and skied on the snow.
It is getting warmer there too.
Walking seems more apt here.
miriam
Thank you, Delphini. 🙂
Thank you, Mitch ????
Climate change is causing weird weather around the globe. I haven’t noticed any brass monkeys around here, but I don’t go out much.
Indeed, climate change is affecting us. Stay warm and thank you ????
Good for you to get outside in such freezing weather 🙂 Anything below 15 degrees Celsius is too cold for me.
Thank you, Rosaliene, I’m with you on the 15C. ????
I am okay with the cold weather, just not the damp cold we get in Lisbon. Stay warm!
Yes, give me the warm weather any day. Thank you ????
I didn’t know that expression and I thank you for talking about it.
I also thank you for the site you suggested
Have a nice weekend ❄️????❄️
Thank you, Luisa for your very kind words. ????
It didn’tlast long did it? Back to grey and miserable here today.
You’re right, grey and miserable here. It’s still brass monkey weather though. ???? Thank you
Where were these photos taken?
It’s a place in mid-Wales called Llangunllo. Thank you, Maria. 🙂
new phrase for me Trev~! ????
Thank you, Cindy, I am pleased you have learned something here. 🙂
Brass-monkey-cold, yes (first time I’ve heard the expression, and I like it), but still beautiful!
Keep yourself warm and toasty ☕️????
Funnily I was just complaining to myself ???? that they’ve been threatening snow for the past couple of weeks and it hasn’t really happened, not properly, just foggy, frosty grey days….and if we’re not going to have a ‘proper’ cold and snowy winter can we just skip to spring/summer please ????????????????
Thank you, Cherryl. I tend to agree with your last sentence. ????
Brass monkey weather indeed. Looks like a lovely day there though and very refreshing, and it does make coming home to a nice cuppa (and the central heating) feel all the more welcome. My body is not impressed by this morgue-cooler weather at all. Bring on the summer! We have to wait 364 days to get 2 days of summer in this country though ???? xx
Thank you, Caz. I hope you’re not suffering too bad with the cold weather. I agree, bring on the one day of summer. ????????????
I lived in Kent in 1963. I hated the winters. I have the heating on in Florida right now ????
Thank you, Susie. I hate the cold weather too, I much prefer the summer sun. ????
It’s freezing cold in my part of the world too … unbearable for young people as well Trev…
Stay warm, my friend. Thank you. ????
I enjoyed ice and snow for 45 years, but I have lived in Florida for 26 years. I don’t think I could take the cold any more. 🙂 Did you remember your Long Johns and wool socks? Have a great day, Trev!
I think I would prefer Florida and the warmth, thank you Cheryl. I shall have to dig my long johns out of my warm sock draw, I know they’re there somewhere. Thank you, Cheryl. ????
Blimey, Trev, hope you were wearing your thermals!
I am Dave and sitting on top of the fire. Thank you. ????
Your delightful and vivid description of the cold winter you’ve been experiencing, reminded me of an old favorite quote “Imagine if fire extinguishers were full of snow. Imagine the fun we could have.” 🙂
Thank you, that does sound like it would be a lot of great fun. ????????
I hear you about the deep freeze. It was minus 33 Celsius here yesterday.
Thank you, Mark. -33C oooh that’s beyond cold!
In Birmingham, where I grew up we used to say…”Its a bit parky this morning”, but I have no idea of the origin of the phrase?
Best Wishes
Kevin
Ha, I know that phrase well, thanks, Kevin. ????
I’m with you on this one!! Anything below 85F is cold to me. I am leaving town for much colder weather this coming week…and not EXACTLY looking forward to it! Stay warm…never heard “Brass Monkey Weather” before 😉
Thank you, Lorrie. Yes, I hate the cold weather. I don’t envy you having to leave for much colder weather. Wrap up warm, safe travels. 🙂