Summer Vibes (Idioms & Expressions)
- englishiseasierwithamal.com
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Summer Vibes (Idioms & Expressions)
Summer idioms are very common in everyday English conversations. Native speakers use these expressions to talk about hot weather, staying cool, and enjoying the sun. Today, we will learn 6 of the most popular summer idioms so you can understand and use them!
1. Dog days of summer
Meaning: The hottest, stickiest days of the summer (usually late July and August).
Simple Explanation: The hottest days of July and August.
Example: "I don't want to go running outside during the dog days of summer."
2. Beat the heat
Meaning: To stay cool or escape hot weather (by going indoors, swimming, or using AC).
Simple Explanation: To stay cool when it is very hot outside.
Example: "Let's go to the air-conditioned mall to beat the heat."
3. Scorcher / It's a scorcher!
Meaning: An extremely hot day (hot enough to "scorch" or burn things).
Simple Explanation: A very, very hot day.
Example: "Drink plenty of water today; it’s going to be a real scorcher!"
4. Soak up the sun
Meaning: To sit or lie outside and enjoy the warm sunlight and weather.
Simple Explanation: To enjoy spending time outside in the sunshine.
Example: "We spent the afternoon at the beach soaking up the sun."
5. Like an oven / Hotter than an oven
Meaning: A place or room that feels intensely hot and airless.
Simple Explanation: A place that feels extremely hot inside.
Example: "My car was parked in the sun all day, and now it feels like an oven inside!"
6. Catch some rays
Meaning: To go outside to get a tan or sit in the sunlight.
Simple Explanation: To sit in the sun.
Example: "She is lying on the grass to catch some rays before class starts."
I. Read each short story below. Choose the idiom from that best fits the situation.
Scenario 1
Story: Marco parked his car in a sunny parking lot for three hours. All the windows were closed. When he opened the car door to get in, hot air hit his face, and the steering wheel was too hot to touch!
Question: How does Marco's car feel inside?
__________________________________________________________________________________
Scenario 2
Story: It is 2:00 PM in the middle of August. The temperature is 38 degrees Celsius, the air is very humid, and there is no wind at all. Everyone feels tired and sweaty just sitting outside.
Question: What time of year is it?
__________________________________________________________________________________
Scenario 3
Story: Sarah looks at her phone weather app in the morning. The app shows a big sun icon with a temperature of 36 degrees Celsius. She turns to her husband and says, "Wow, look at the weather forecast today! Make sure you wear a hat."
Question: What can Sarah say about today's weather?
__________________________________________________________________________________
Scenario 4
Story: The weather is very hot outside, and Hasan does not have air conditioning in his apartment. He decides to pack a bag, take his laptop, and spend the afternoon studying inside the cool public library.
Question: What is Hasan trying to do?
__________________________________________________________________________________
Scenario 5
Story: After a long, cold winter, the weather on Saturday is warm, bright, and sunny 24 degrees Celsius. Elena puts on her sunglasses, sits on a blanket in the park, closes her eyes, and feels the warm sunshine on her face.
Question: What is Elena doing in the park?
__________________________________________________________________________________
Scenario 6
Story: It is a beautiful Saturday afternoon. David puts on his swimsuit, grabs a towel and his sunscreen, and goes to the beach to sit near the water and get a tan. His friend calls him and asks, "What are you doing today?" David answers, "I'm just relaxing at the beach..."
Question: What is David doing at the beach?
__________________________________________________________________________________
II. Complete the conversation between two coworkers, Elena and Ken, using the correct idiom.
Elena: Phew! I just walked from my car to the office, and I'm already sweating. (1) ____________________ out there today!
Ken: Tell me about it! Late August is always the worst. We are definitely in the (2) ____________________.
Elena: Yeah, my air conditioner broke last night, so my whole apartment (3) ____________________ right now. I couldn't even sleep!
Ken: Oh no, that's terrible! You should come to the public library with me after
work. They have great AC, so it's a good place to (4) ____________________.
Elena: That's a great idea! What are your plans for the weekend?
Ken: I’m going to the lake on Saturday. I just want to lie on a blanket and (5) ____________________ all afternoon.
Elena: Sounds relaxing! Just don't forget your sunscreen if you're going to (6) ____________________ by the water all day.
III. Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence.
1. My apartment doesn't have air conditioning, so during July, it __________________ inside.
A) catches some rays
B) beats the heat
C) feels like an oven
D) soaks up the sun
2. Drink plenty of water and wear sunscreen today because it’s going to be a real __________________!
A) dog day
B) scorcher
C) ray
D) oven
3. Late August is always the hottest and most humid time of the year. I really dislike the __________________.
A) dog days of summer
B) beat of the heat
C) scorcher of rays
D) oven weather
4. When the temperature reached $37^\circ\text{C}$, we went to the air-conditioned shopping mall to __________________.
A) catch some rays
B) feel like an oven
C) soak up the sun
D) beat the heat
5. We took a blanket to the park on Saturday afternoon just to sit outside and __________________.
A) beat the heat
B) soak up the sun
C) feel like an oven
D) dog days of summer
6. Maria put on her swimsuit and went to the beach to relax and __________________.
A) beat the heat
B) feel like an oven
C) catch some rays
D) dog days of summer
7. I left my laptop inside the car for two hours. When I picked it up, it was burning hot because the car __________________.
A) beat the heat
B) felt like an oven
C) caught some rays
D) soaked up the sun
8. "How are you staying cool today?" — "I'm going to the splash pad with my kids to __________________."
A) beat the heat
B) catch some rays
C) feel like an oven
D) dog days of summer
9. It's $35^\circ\text{C}$ outside today! You shouldn't go for a long run in this weather—it's an absolute __________________!
A) ray
B) oven
C) scorcher
D) dog day
10. After three weeks of rain, the weather is finally bright and warm. Let's sit on the balcony and __________________.
A) beat the heat
B) soak up the sun
C) feel like an oven
D) dog days of summer
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