8 Summer Idioms That Are Easy to Use in English Conversation
This lesson on 8 summer idioms was updated with new content in July 2017.
How do you spend your time in the dog days of summer? Do you prefer to soak up the sun or get lost with your head in the clouds during the summer holidays? Wait. What? Dog days of summer? What does that mean? Ahh, idioms! That’s right, we’re focused on easy summer idioms you can use in your English conversations.
Here’s why: at your English level, you’ve developed a strong foundation in grammar and vocabulary. Now it’s time to add real-life English so you can understand easily and speak naturally.
These summer-inspired idioms are perfect for daily conversations with friends and at work.
Watch the video below for some of my favorites from the list. Then review the examples and then answer the challenge question at the end of the lesson. The best way to learn and remember new vocabulary is to practice with your own sentences, so be sure to join me in the comments below!
My favorite summer idioms for daily English conversation.
Lesson by Annemarie
Summer Idioms and How to Use Them
Like Watching Grass Grow
If something is like watching grass grow then it means it is super boring. Grass grows very slowly and it’s not exciting to watch, is it?
- It’s been raining all week and there’s nothing to do! This summer is like watching grass grow.
A Fair-Weathered Friend
This sounds like it could be positive but it’s not. Fair weather is another way of saying nice or good weather. But a fair-weathered friend is someone who is only your friend when things are good. If challenges or difficulties start, then your friend is gone and not there to help you.
- I was so hurt during the divorce when I realized that Alice was such a fair-weathered friend. I really thought she would be there for me during that difficult time but she disappeared from my life as soon as things got hard.
Travel on a Shoestring
Summer is a season when usually go on vacation and travel. To travel on a shoestring or a shoestring budget means to travel very cheaply. For example, you might stay in youth hostels instead of a hotel. The goal is to spend as little money as possible.
- When I was a college student I didn’t have any money so I always traveled on a shoestring.
Head in the Clouds
To have one’s head in the clouds means to not know or to be unaware of what is going because the person is daydreaming or thinking about something else.
- I can’t focus at work today! I’ve got my head in the clouds thinking about my summer vacation next week!
- Sarah was caught with her head in the clouds during class today. The teacher asked her to answer a simple question but Sarah couldn’t answer because she hadn’t been paying attention.
Soak Up Some Sun
To soak up some sun means to lie in the sun and enjoy the sun’s rays on your skin.
- I can’t wait to get away and soak up some sun on the beach next week! It’s the perfect way to relax during a summer vacation.
Have a Green Thumb
To have a green thumb that you are great at gardening or have a natural talent for gardening. It is important to note that this can only be used for gardening or growing plants; this idiom cannot be used for other natural abilities.
- Wow! Look at your vegetable garden! It’s so vibrant and full – you must have a green thumb! Unfortunately, no matter how hard I try, I can’t keep any plants or flowers alive.
Social Butterfly
A social butterfly is someone who likes to be around people, who likes the company of others. This is someone who loves talking to everyone at the party and can do so easily, moving from one person to the next.
- John is such a social butterfly! He’s out every night of the week and knows everyone in this city. I don’t know how he has so much energy!
Dog Days of Summer
The dog days of summer are the hottest days of the summer. These are the days that are so hot, you don’t have the energy to do anything but sit. These are also periods of time when nothing is really happening.
- I wish I could go home from work early today. It’s impossible to get any work done during these dog days of summer!
Summer Fling
A summer fling is a short romance or dating relationship during the summer period; it’s a romance that isn’t meant to be serious or long-term. Imagine a boy and girl who date only during the summer and then stop their romantic relationship at the end of summer.
- I can’t believe Susan’s a teenager already! She had her first summer fling with a boy from summer camp but thankfully it wasn’t too serious. I’m not ready for her to grow up so fast!
Thrown in at the Deep End
To be thrown in at the deep end means to make someone do something, especially a job, without preparing them for it or helping them.
- I’ll be honest, Jim was thrown in at the deep end. He didn’t have anyone to train him in the new position but I think he’s done really well and proved that he can learn quickly on the job.
Full of Hot Air
To be full of hot air means to be full of nonsense or to have nothing to say that makes sense. This expression can be used when someone says things that sound like nonsense or aren’t believable.
- Why are so many politicians full of hot air? It’s hard to believe anything they say!
Now I’d love to hear from you.
Try using some of these new idioms today. Choose 2 or 3 idioms from today’s list that are new for you and share your own example sentences in the comments below. I’ll be sure to provide feedback and encouragement.
Also, I’m curious, do you know of other English idioms that remind you of summer? If so, I’d love to hear about them! Share with me in the comments.
Thanks for joining me this week and happy summer!
~ Annemarie
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Hi Annemarie ,
The more study each video, the more I realize how much progress I am making
Even if I am an artist and sometimes I can have my head in the clouds I’m not a day dreaming and step by step I build my skills in English
Thank you for this !
Radu
I’m so pleased to hear that, Radu!! It’s because of your consistent practice and hard work.
Help me with “wish I could summer forever”. Is it ok? It can be used like “wish I could have all that summer means in my life”?
It was great. Thank you 😊 very much
Hi Annemarie!
I love summer too and I love your fantastic videos.
I ‘m pretty sure you will soon make a splash with your website!
have a fantastic summer!
Hello Marie Joe,
What a kind comment! Thank you so much and I’m thrilled to know my lessons are useful to you. Best, Annemarie
Hello, you r just amazing n like the way you r teaching. These idioms are very useful.! Your lessons are short n sweet. Thanks. I got my head in the clouds while writing this. Trust me I m nt full of hot air.
Hello Pinto,
Thank you so much for your comments. I’m thrilled to know my lessons are useful to you.
hi my friend . would you plz write some idioms inspired by winter
Hello Eli,
Thank you for your request. I do have a lesson on idioms inspired by winter. You can find it by clicking here.
Best, Annemarie
Hi Annemarie, I am happy to see and listen to you again. This short and fun lesson is much better me than a long story. Yeah that’s sure, dog days are not the time to be focused on our goals. Otherwise I think nobody like plough the sands. So let us go out a sommer fling with my wife round the Balaton for three days, to meet friends, soak up the sun, and head in the clouds. I took into my head, next week I’m going to share something in English. I wonder then how to succeed. Have a nice… Read more »
Hello Andras, It’s great to have you join this lesson! And I’m glad this one was useful to you!
Thank you for sharing your examples using some of these idioms! Are you experiencing some dog days in Hungary this summer? Has it been extremely hot and sunny?
Remember: a summer fling is a short summer dating relationship or romance, which means at the end of summer the romantic relationship is over. A summer fling isn’t a trip or vacation. It is only the (short) dating relationship.
I’m curious – what are you going to share in English? ~ Annemarie
Dear Anne-Marie,
Thanks a lot for inspiring lessons!
My lovely idiom is-Every cloud has a silver lining.Believing that every bad situation has a positive side / eventually leads to something good!)
Another is “Swim Against the Tide”, which means to go against the general trend. We have also the same expression in my native language (Azerbaijan language).
Wish you a good week.
Regards,
Shebnem
Hello Shebnem,
Thanks so much for sharing and 2 GREAT examples! They are both perfect for this lesson on idioms inspired by summer. And very good explanations. Well done!
Could you use either of these idioms (or a new idiom from the lesson) in your own example sentences?
Best, Annemarie
Hello Annemarie,
Thanks you for motivating! Of course, I actually like to use idioms on my every day speaking. And every time to try to find English version of them. My sentences are below:
1. Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Chopin have had a green thumb.
2. My last year summer fling was incredible, I would wish repeating.
Have a nice day
Regards,
Shebnem
Hello Shebnem, Thanks so much for sharing your example sentences with us! I do have a couple of questions for you. In number 1 about Mozart, Beethoven, etc., do you mean to say that they are good a gardening? Remember, to have a green thumb means to have a natural ability for gardening or growing plants. It can’t be used for other abilities. And for number two, I understand that you had a wonderful short, summer romance or dating relationship with another person and you wish you could date that person again – is that correct? Thanks again and please… Read more »
Hi Annemarie! At first, thank you for this interesting lesson! As you know I love all your lessons, because they are always useful and exciting! I want to share with you some idioms I know. The first one is “one swallow does not make a summer”, which means because one good thing has happened, you cannot therefore be certain that more good things will happen and the whole situation will improve. Another one is an “indian summer”, which means a period of warm weather which sometimes happens in early autumn. We have also the same expression in my native language,… Read more »
Hello Tanya,
Thanks so much for sharing two of your favorite idioms!! Perfect explanations.
I love the idea of “women’s summer” in the same way we mean “Indian summer.”
How would you use one of those idioms in your own expression (or one of the idioms from the lesson that may be new to you)?
~ Annemarie
My examples: 1.My bestie is a daydreamer. She’s got her head in the clouds. 2.I knew that the man was full of hot air when he began to tell us how to make lots of money.
Have a wonderful day!
Tanya
Great Tanya! And the second one made me laugh! Perfectly said and I can imagine a real situation like that!
~ Annemarie