10 Summer Idioms From Around The World

Summer’s finally here so it’s time to relax and catch some rays. You can forget about studying and taking tests until September.

Why not take the chance to learn some fun vocabulary and phrases in English? There are plenty of idioms from around the world you can drop into conversation.

To get you started, here are some of the best phrases and idioms from different countries.

English: to soak up the sun

As you might guess, ‘to soak up the sun’ means to enjoy spending time outdoors in the hot and sunny weather. You might use this great English idiom to talk about going sunbathing at the beach or picnicking at the local park.

If you’re just popping outdoors for a moment, feel free to use it then. Lots of people want to soak up the sun for a second after they’ve been cooped up at work all day. After all, there’s no better spot for a quick coffee break than a balcony or garden.

Spanish: a heat of justice

When it’s especially bright and hot, the sun can feel like a punishment. That’s when you might use the Spanish idiom ‘un calor de justicia’.

Blazing hot weather or a ‘a heat of justice’ can make it hard to do anything. It’s best to stay in the shade and relax if possible. If you have to go outdoors for any reason, be sure to wear a hat and keep hydrated.

French: to melt away like snow in the sun

If you’ve ever had a cool drink on a hot summer’s day, you’ll know how quickly ice can vanish. That’s the inspiration for the French idiom ‘fondre comme neige au soleil’ which we can use to talk about things disappearing quickly.

Ironically, don’t you ever feel like summer itself melts away quickly like snow in the sun? It seems like one minute you’re setting off on holiday and the next you’re back at work or school again. Make sure you make the most of this summer before it’s over!

Japanese: summer furnace, winter fan

Lots of people like to shop in the summer sales. The only problem is that a lot of the stock is left over from the cooler months. Who needs a sweater in July, right?

The Japanese call these unseasonal items ‘karo tōsen’. You can also use the expression to talk about anything odd or out of place. So, the next time you see someone wearing casual clothes to a formal occasion, you can say they’re a summer furnace or a winter fan.

German: summer hole

Life tends to slow down between mid-July and the end of August. All the kids are off school, the shops close and everyone goes on holiday. News outlets find they have nothing to report on except sandcastle competitions.

The Germans call this ‘summer loch’ which directly translates to ‘summer hole’. However, it’s better to think of it as a gap or break from the normal routine.

Russian: grandmother’s summer

Sometimes in September or October, there’s a period of hot weather before the cold sets in. In Russian and many other Slavic languages, this is a ‘babje leto’.

Why is it called a grandmother’s summer? Perhaps it’s because the heat comes late in the year much like you become a grandmother late in your life. We like to think it’s because the weather is more bearable for our elderly grandparents than in full summer.

Portuguese: to cover the sun with a sieve

It’s hard to ignore the sun in Portugal and Brazil. Both countries are famed for their hot, sunny weather. Perhaps that’s why they came up with the idiom ‘tapar o sol com a peneira’ or ‘hide the sun with a sieve’ which means to make reality seem better.

The idea is that you can’t escape from the truth, much like you can’t hide something as large and bright as the sun. Sometimes, you just have to accept that things could be better and find a way to fix them.

Arabic: summer cloud

If there’s a thunderstorm in the summer, you can be sure the clouds will disappear quickly. The same is true of many bad things in life.

Perhaps that’s why Arabic speakers call temporary issues a ‘sahabat alsayf’. It doesn’t matter if you fall out with a friend or fail a test. These summer clouds will soon burn away and you’ll find a solution to your problems.

Welsh: the sun is smiling

You can say ‘mae’r haul yn gwenu’ whenever there’s some sunny weather, not just during summer. However, Wales is famous for its overcast skies and wet weather. You probably have to wait for June to see the sun smiling anyway.

Don’t let that put you off visiting Wales, though. The country doesn’t need a smiling sun to be enjoyable as it’s got some of the most beautiful countryside, beaches and mountains in the world.

Want to learn more funny phrases from other languages? Watch some posts by The Language Nerds.

Final thoughts

Nobody wants to spend their break deep in studies. Luckily, learning some fun phrases can help you continue your English without breaking a sweat. See if you can memorise all the idioms from around the world off our list before the end of summer.

If you’re looking for more of the best idioms from around the world, consider booking a class at Oxford House. Our teachers can help you find and learn the meaning of great phrases and expressions. Book a class today.

Glossary for Language Learners

Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn’t know.

To catch some rays (id): to spend time in the sun, usually to get a tan.

Coop up (phr v): keep someone inside in a small space.

Keep hydrated (phr): drink enough water to stay healthy.

Set in (pv): to begin and continue for a while.

Overcast (adj): very cloudy.

Break a sweat (phr): use a lot of effort to do something.

Key

id = idiom

pv = phrasal verb

phr = phrase

adj = adjective