Hey there! This is TOP episode 103. 10 Summer Idioms
My name’s Ola and I am an English teacher. My goal is to help you start speaking English with confidence and get rid of speaking barriers. I believe it is achievable for you and it’s time you started speaking English fearlessly! Go to my website for full transcripts and worksheets to each episode. Happy learning!
Hello! How are you doing? I hope you’re enjoying this beautiful summer we’re having. The weather outside has inspired me to record this episode for you. I picked 10 summer idioms, let’s go through them. Stay till the end because there will be a practical part when you will be speaking English out loud.
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To soak up the sun – If you soak up the sun, you sit or lie in the sun, because you enjoy it. There’s a song by Sheryl Crow titled exactly that ‘Soak Up The Sun’. To enjoy feeling or experiencing sunbathing in a slow or relaxed way. We went to the beach and soaked up the sun all afternoon. Are you planning to soak up the sun this weekend?
Dog days of summer – We’ve already talked about this idiom in episode 50: Animal Idioms You Need To Know. Let me just quickly repeat what I said there. This idiom has two meanings. The first is the hottest days in the year. Usually, we hear it in a phrase: dog days of summer. Watermelon is great for staying cool during the dog days of summer. The dog days of summer are a difficult period for those who have to work out in the open. The second meaning is a period of time when something is not successful. Do you know why ‘dog’ days and not ‘cat’ for instance? Well, it’s because the Dog Star, Sirius, is the brightest star in the sky from June to September. That’s also why Harry Potter’s Godfather Sirius was a dog in his animagus form.
To sail through – to succeed very easily in something, especially a test. He shouldn’t have expected to just sail through without doing any work. To do something easily and confidently: She sailed through her final exams.
Summer fling – To put it simply, a summer fling is a short-term romantic or sexual encounter that happens during the summer. For example: He was fun for a summer fling, but he’s not boyfriend material.
One swallow doesn’t make a summer – although something good has happened, the situation may not continue to be good, and you cannot rely on it. One piece of evidence does not mean that something is definitely the case or is going to happen. A single instance of something is just that; it doesn’t indicate a trend. One swallow doesn’t make a summer, you know. Don’t be too pessimistic.
A place in the sun – A very good, successful, or desirable position. For example: After years of struggling as an unknown writer, he has finally found his place in the sun. An advantageous or favorable position or situation. Are you in a place in the sun? Have you found your place in the sun?
To beat the heat – to remain cool in hot weather. We will be leaving very early tomorrow morning in order to beat the heat. Fresh lemonade is a great way to beat the heat. How do you beat the heat? Do you have a method that always works. In fact I’ve heard that drinking hot tea with lemon does the work.
To walk on sunshine – ‘Walking on Sunshine’ is yet another song to be mentioned in this episode. I’m sure you know the song, it’s very energetic. But what does it mean to walk on sunshine? To be extremely happy. That’s it. I’m in love and I’m walking on sunshine.
A ray of sunshine – a person who brings happiness into the lives of others. a happy person who makes others feel happy, especially in a difficult situation. I can’t wait to see my nephew! He’s a ray of sunshine!
No year has two summers – this isn’t an idiom in fact. It’s a proverb. A Russian proverb. Ain’t it beautiful? We should take full advantage of good summer weather while it lasts. We should take full advantage of all periods while they last. Life’s short, we better enjoy it!
One more thing needs to be addressed I feel. You may come across this idiom: Indian summer, but you know what? Don’t use it. The history of this phrase is, let’s say, complicated. There is though a good alternative. A second summer. A second summer is an unseasonably warm and dry period at the beginning of autumn. A second summer, people, focus. Indian summer is clearly wrong. And it’s not about being politically correct, no. It’s about being respectful, and also not being racist. I know that this phrase is well known, and used by habit and people using it don’t want to offend anyone but what they don’t know is the history underpinning this phrase. Indian summer is considered a relic of the past and disrespectful of Native American people. Well, I encourage you to dig deeper, learn more, google it. In my newsletter I’ve sent you an interesting article on this topic.
God! Now we gotta practice! I’m going to give you 12 sentences to listen to and repeat out loud. Super important. Out loud. Ok, shall we?
We went to the beach and soaked up the sun all afternoon.
Watermelon is great for staying cool during the dog days of summer.
The dog days of summer are a difficult period for those who have to work out in the open.
He shouldn’t have expected to just sail through without doing any work.
One swallow doesn’t make a summer, you know. Don’t be too pessimistic.
He was fun for a summer fling, but he’s not boyfriend material.
After years of struggling as an unknown writer, he has finally found his place in the sun.
We will be leaving very early tomorrow morning in order to beat the heat.
Fresh watermelon is a great way to beat the heat.
I’m in love and I’m walking on sunshine.
I can’t wait to see my nephew! He’s a ray of sunshine!
No year has two summers.
Well done! Now, go to your inbox and grab the worksheet in order to test yourself. Complete the worksheet with translations. If you aren’t a member of TOPeople download the worksheet at teacherola.com/1013 and become one. It’s free.
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Thank you so much for listening and I’ll see you next Wednesday! We’re going to discuss another grammar point. Modal verbs yet again! Be here next week! Happy learning. Take care! Stay fearless and say it out loud! Bye!