Definition

1. Noun:
   • A common name for the plant Anagallis arvensis, specifically the scarlet pimpernel: "poor man's weatherglass" is a colloquial name for a small annual wildflower. It is called this because its flowers are known to close when bad weather (rain or high humidity) is approaching, and open in sunny weather, acting as a simple natural barometer.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Look, the poor man's weatherglass is closed; we should hurry home before it rains.
  • Botanists sometimes refer to Anagallis arvensis as the poor man's weatherglass due to its predictable behavior.

Advanced Usage

• The term is used almost exclusively to refer to this specific plant and its weather-predicting characteristic. It is a folk name and an example of a weather lore plant.
• It can be used metaphorically to describe something or someone that is a reliable, simple indicator of a change in conditions.
  • The stock market became the poor man's weatherglass for the country's economic health.

Variants and Related Words

• Scarlet pimpernel (n): The most common name for the same plant (), referring to its typical flower color.
• Shepherd's weatherglass (n): A synonymous folk name for the same plant.
• Barometer (n): A scientific instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure, used for weather prediction. This is the modern, technical equivalent of the function described by "poor man's weatherglass."

Synonyms

• Scarlet pimpernel
• Shepherd's weatherglass
• Anagallis arvensis (scientific name)

Related Idioms

• While not an idiom itself, "poor man's weatherglass" is a folk idiom—a fixed phrase from traditional speech that describes a natural phenomenon in a poetic way. It fits the pattern of "poor man's [something]," meaning a simple, inexpensive substitute for a more complex tool (e.g., a "poor man's barometer").

Noun

1. herb with scarlet or white or purple blossoms that close at approach of rainy weather