Summer is a fun and exciting time. The days are longer, the sun is warmer, and school is out. People go to the beach, play outside, and enjoy cold treats. There are also many idioms special phrases that help describe the fun, the heat, and the feeling of summer.
Instead of saying “It’s very hot,” someone might say “It’s a scorcher.” These idioms make talking about summer more fun and colorful. In this article, you’ll learn 30 idioms people use to talk about summer. They can help you describe your sunny days in a way that’s fun and easy to understand.
Idioms for Summer
1. Dog days of summer
Meaning: The hottest and laziest days of summer.
Samples: During the dog days of summer, I just wanted to sit by the fan. / It’s hard to play outside during the dog days.
To Put it Another Way: Really hot days. / The slow, hot part of summer.
2. Beat the heat
Meaning: To stay cool during hot weather.
Samples: We went to the pool to beat the heat. / She drank lemonade to beat the heat.
To Put it Another Way: Cool down. / Avoid the hot sun.
3. Soak up the sun
Meaning: To enjoy being outside in the sunshine.
Samples: We laid on the beach to soak up the sun. / I soaked up the sun at the park.
To Put it Another Way: Enjoy the sunshine. / Get warm outside.
4. A scorcher
Meaning: A very hot day.
Samples: Today’s a scorcher we need ice cream! / It was a scorcher during the baseball game.
To Put it Another Way: Super hot day. / Heat everywhere.
5. Full of sunshine
Meaning: Very cheerful or happy.
Samples: She’s full of sunshine today. / His smile was full of sunshine.
To Put it Another Way: Very happy. / Bright and joyful.
6. Make hay while the sun shines
Meaning: Enjoy good times while they last.
Samples: Let’s play now make hay while the sun shines! / She read books all break, making hay while the sun shined.
To Put it Another Way: Have fun while you can. / Use your time well.
7. Blow hot and cold
Meaning: To change feelings quickly.
Samples: He blows hot and cold yesterday. He wanted to swim, but today he doesn’t. / Summer weather can blow hot and cold.
To Put it Another Way: Keep changing moods or choices. / Can’t decide.
8. In the heat of the moment
Meaning: Acting quickly because of strong feelings.
Samples: He shouted in the heat of the moment. / They argued in the heat of the moment.
To Put it Another Way: Got carried away. / Didn’t stop to think.
9. Like a summer breeze
Meaning: Easy and pleasant.
Samples: Her voice is like a summer breeze. / That day felt like a summer breeze.
To Put it Another Way: Light and peaceful. / Very calm and easy.
10. A breath of fresh air
Meaning: Something new and nice.
Samples: Her summer outfit was a breath of fresh air. / That song is a breath of fresh air.
To Put it Another Way: New and refreshing. / Something enjoyable.
11. Like watching grass grow
Meaning: Very boring or slow.
Samples: Waiting in the heat felt like watching grass grow. / That slow game was like watching grass grow.
To Put it Another Way: It was boring. / Time felt super slow.
12. Catch some rays
Meaning: To lie in the sun.
Samples: We went outside to catch some rays. / She loves catching rays by the pool.
To Put it Another Way: Relax in the sunshine. / Get some sun.
13. A ray of sunshine
Meaning: Someone who brings joy.
Samples: My friend is a ray of sunshine on rainy days. / His joke was a ray of sunshine.
To Put it Another Way: Someone or something that makes you happy.
14. Heat wave
Meaning: A period of very hot weather.
Samples: The heat wave made it hard to sleep. / During the heat wave, we stayed inside.
To Put it Another Way: Many days of strong heat.
15. Hot under the collar
Meaning: Feeling angry or upset.
Samples: He got hot under the collar when the game got canceled. / She was hot under the collar after the argument.
To Put it Another Way: Upset or mad.
16. Long hot summer
Meaning: A summer that feels long and difficult.
Samples: It was a long hot summer with lots of chores. / We had a long, hot summer with no AC.
To Put it Another Way: A tough summer season.
17. Summer fling
Meaning: A short summer friendship or crush.
Samples: She had a summer fling at camp. / It was just a summer fling, not serious.
To Put it Another Way: A short summer feeling or bond.
18. Sun’s out, fun’s out
Meaning: When the sun is shining, it’s time to play.
Samples: We ran to the park sun’s out, fun’s out! / He grabbed his bike sun’s out, fun’s out!
To Put it Another Way: It’s sunny let’s have fun!
19. Cool as a cucumber
Meaning: Very calm, even when it’s hot.
Samples: She stayed cool as a cucumber during the test. / He was cool as a cucumber on stage.
To Put it Another Way: Very calm and relaxed.
20. Melting like ice cream
Meaning: Feeling super hot.
Samples: I was melting like ice cream out there! / After 10 minutes, we were melting like ice cream.
To Put it Another Way: It was so hot we felt like melting.
21. A lazy hazy day
Meaning: A warm, slow day.
Samples: We spent a lazy hazy day watching clouds. / Summer is full of lazy, hazy days.
To Put it Another Way: Slow, easy summer day.
22. The sun is blazing
Meaning: The sun is shining very hot and strong.
Samples: The sun was blazing on the playground. / We looked for shade the sun was blazing.
To Put it Another Way: Super bright and hot sun.
23. Too hot to handle
Meaning: Too hot or difficult to deal with.
Samples: The sidewalk was too hot to handle. / It’s too hot to handle out here!
To Put it Another Way: Can’t take the heat.
24. As bright as the sun
Meaning: Very cheerful or shining.
Samples: Her dress was as bright as the sun. / His smile was as bright as the sun.
To Put it Another Way: Very happy or bright.
25. Poolside vibes
Meaning: Relaxing, fun summer feelings.
Samples: We had poolside vibes with music and snacks. / That book gave me poolside vibes.
To Put it Another Way: Chilling out and enjoying summer.
26. The heat is on
Meaning: It’s hot or there’s pressure to do something.
Samples: The heat is on during summer training. / The heat is on to finish before lunch.
To Put it Another Way: Time is tight or it’s very hot.
27. A day in the sun
Meaning: A happy time with attention or success.
Samples: She had her day in the sun at the talent show. / The team had a day in the sun after winning.
To Put it Another Way: A special, bright moment.
28. Fire up the grill
Meaning: Start cooking outside (often in summer).
Samples: We fired up the grill for hot dogs. / Dad fired up the grill after baseball.
To Put it Another Way: Cook food outside.
29. Tan lines and good times
Meaning: A fun, sunny summer.
Samples: The trip was all tan lines and good times. / Summer camp gave us tan lines and good times.
To Put it Another Way: We had lots of fun in the sun.
30. Endless summer
Meaning: A summer that feels long and full of fun.
Samples: That beach trip felt like an endless summer. / I wish this break could be an endless summer.
To Put it Another Way: A summer that never seems to end.
Find the Topics: Idioms for Summer
Activity: “The Best Summer Day”
It was Saturday, and the sun was blazing. Emma and her friends decided to beat the heat by heading to the pool. “Sun’s out, fun’s out!” shouted Noah, grabbing his towel. They jumped in, laughing and soaking up the sun between splashes.
After swimming, they caught some rays and had snacks. “This is pure poolside vibes,” said Maya. The day felt like an endless summer no school, just sunshine and friends.
Later, they went home and fired up the grill for dinner. “These are the real dog days of summer,” Emma said. “Hot, lazy, and full of fun.” As the sun set, they agreed it had been a day in the sun the kind they’d always remember.
Your Task:
Can you find and list all 8 idioms for summer used in the story?
Answer Key
- Beat the heat
- Sun’s out, fun’s out
- Soaking up the sun
- Caught some rays
- Poolside vibes
- Endless summer
- Fired up the grill
- Dog days of summer
Conclusion
Summer is full of heat, fun, and memories. Idioms like “dog days of summer” and “soak up the sun” help us describe what summer feels like in fun and creative ways. These phrases turn simple days into stories that are easy to share.
By learning these idioms, you can talk about summer in a way that sounds exciting and colorful. Whether you’re outside playing or relaxing in the shade, summer idioms help you capture the feeling of sunny days.
