‘Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey’
No, it’s not as rude as it might seem!
This very common description of the British Winter weather actually comes from the times when the Royal Navy fought with cannon balls. These were stored on deck, beside the cannons. With the rolling of the ship due to the waves, the balls would roll all aound the ship. So, they were fixed to small stable upright called a Brass Monkey. In the bitter cold the fixing could break and let loose the cannon balls! Hence the phrase.
Hope you enjoy it and check back next week for the next one!