10 IDIOMS RELATED

TO SUMMER
1. TO BE OFF ON YOUR
VACATION

“to be off” means to be leaving to do something. In

British English, you can be “off walking the dog”,
“off to the shops” or, like in this case, “off on
vacation”. 

ex. My friends are off on their vacation in Turkey at

the moment.
2. TRAVEL ON A SHOESTRING

 ”to travel on a shoestring” means to have a

shoestring budget, which is a small budget. When
you’re traveling on a shoestring, you’ll probably be
using inexpensive accommodations like hostels,
taking advantage of special offers and discounts,
and trying to spend as little money as possible.

ex. I really learned how to travel on a

shoestring when I studied abroad.
3. TO TAKE A SHINE TO SOMEONE
This one means to like or feel attracted to someone you’ve just met, especially in a romantic sense.

ex. My younger brother has really taken a shine to you.

4. THROWN IN AT THE DEEP END
Referencing the deep end of a pool where you can’t stand up and are forced to swim, this idiom
means to put someone in a new situation or under pressure, without proper preparation or
introduction. If, for example, somebody gives you a new task at work without telling you how to
do it, they’d be throwing you into the deep end.

ex. On my first day in this job, I was asked to give a report to the board of directors. I was
really thrown in at the deep end!
5. TO MAKE HAY WHILE THE
SUN SHINES

The next of our sun idioms means to do something

while a situation allows you to, because the
situation may not last very long. It references the
temporary, fleeting nature of life.

ex. I have a few more days before I have to leave

for home, so I may as well make hay while the sun
shines and go sightseeing as much as possible.
6. A DROP IN THE OCEAN

The next summer idiom means “a small amount

of something compared to what is needed,” or a
relatively insignificant amount.

ex. Thirty thousand dollars is a drop in the

ocean when you think about the millions that will
be spent on this film.
7. LIKE WATER OFF A
DUCK’S BACK
This idiom is used to say that things such as
criticisms or insults do not affect or bother
someone, perhaps because they have dealt
with a lot of them before. They simply slide
off of the person, like water sliding off a
duck’s back.

ex. Tom constantly criticizes Larry, but he

ignores it and the criticism is like water off a
duck’s back.
8. LIKE A FISH OUT OF
WATER
The next on our list of summer idioms is also
water-related. This one refers to the feeling of
being uncomfortable in an unfamiliar situation. 

ex. I went to an office party last night, and I really

felt like a fish out of water. I have nothing in
common with those people.
9. INDIAN SUMMER
The king of all summer idioms, this
idiom is used to refer to a hot,
summerlike period that occurs in mid-
autumn.

ex. The Indian summer has been

unexpectedly long this year.
10. THE DOG DAYS OF
SUMMER
The last idiom that is related to
summer is used to talk about the
hottest part of summer, occurring in
July and August.

ex. During the dog days of summer,

it’s too hot to work outdoors.