PHRASES:  TO MAKE FAIR WEATHER = to flatter, coax, conciliate, make the best of things; TO KEEP THE WEATHER EYE OPEN = to be on one’s guard, alert, watchful: see ‘Keep one’s eyes skinned’; UNDER THE WEATHER = seedy, ill, indisposed; THE CLERK OF THE WEATHER = an imaginary controller of temperature, rainfall, etc.

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  [?].  Cheeke to King Edward [Nugæ Antiquæ, i. 20]. And if anye suche shall be, that shall of all things MAKE FAIR WEATHER, and, whatsoever they shall see to the contrarye, shall tell you all is well, beware of them; they serve themselves, and not you.

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  1594.  SHAKESPEARE, 2 Henry VI., v. 1.

        But I must MAKE FAIR WEATHER yet a while,
Till Henry be more weak, and I more strong.
    Ibid. (1600), Much Ado about Nothing, i. 3. He hath ta’en you newly into his grace; where it is impossible you should take root, but by the FAIR WEATHER THAT YOU MAKE yourself.

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  1599.  MARSTON, Scourge of Villanie, i.

        And by an holy semblance bleare mens eyes,
When he intends some damned villanies.
Ixion MAKES FAIR WEATHER unto Jove,
That he might make foule worke with his faire love;
And is right sober in his outward semblance,
Demure, and modest in his countenance.

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  1865.  DICKENS, Our Mutual Friend, II. v. KEEP YOUR WEATHER EYE AWAKE, and don’t make any more acquaintances, however handsome.

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  d. 1878.  BOWLES [Merriam, II. 49]. Since I went to Washington … I have been quite UNDER THE WEATHER, and have had to neglect everything.

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  1903.  HYNE, The Filibusters, iv. By way of being on the safe side, I’m going to KEEP MY WEATHER EYE LIFTING for everything that’s unpleasant.

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