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[mikal]

where does the saying 'It looks a bit dark over Will's Mother's' come from

[makemesmile]

'It looks a bit dark over Bill's mother's' means it looks like rain : )

[Quizmonster]

It means rain is on the way, as Makemesmile says above. This saying seems to be more widespread around the country nowadays, but many - including Eric Partridge in his �Dictionary of Catch Phrases' - believe it started life in the East Midlands.
The best explanation I've ever heard as to its origin is the one that suggests the �Bill', �Will' or �William' in the phrase refers to William (Will/Bill) Shakespeare. He was born in Stratford-on-Avon, to the west of the Midlands and - if the sky is dark and threatening over that area (ie over Bill's mother's) - it means rain is probably headed for the east of the Midlands region, because the prevailing winds are likely to push the wet weather in that direction.

[makemesmile]

As a 'Gater' from the Black Country, this as something I heard often said, as a girl : )

[taichiperson]

I was born in Wolverhampton, though we moved when I was little, my Dad used to say 'Its a bit black over Bill's mothers'

[taichiperson]

Just remembered another one - we moved to the Channel Islands, to Guernsey. Jersey is some miles away, and the locals used to say 'If you can see Jersey, it's going to rain. if you can't, it's already raining', though the weather wasn't that bad generally. I've since come across it in other places, generally places that are rivals!!!

[Gromit]

taichiperson

They used to say something similar on the Radio Cricket commentary 'Test Match Special'.

They used to say at the Old Trafford Test in Manchester, 'If you can see the Pennines (from the ground) it is going to rain, and if you cannot see them, it is raining.