Spring has sprung, head in the clouds, & ray of hope? What do all of these expressions have in common? They are all related to spring! In this article, we will look at 18 useful and fun spring idioms to boost our vocabulary and speaking ability! Scroll a bit further down to also practice how to pronounce spring!
Spring idioms
Here are the first 6 of our spring idioms – we will look at their meanings, and later on practice making sentences with them.
| Spring idioms | Meanings |
|---|---|
| Head in the clouds | To be daydreaming or not paying attention |
| Ray of hope | A small sign of optimism or possibility |
| Storm in a teacup | A minor or exaggerated problem or conflict |
| Spring fever | An energetic or restless feeling in spring |
| Fair-weather friend | A person who is supportive only in good times |
| Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed | Full of energy and enthusiasm |
Related: 232 Sentences About Spring: Speak About The Best Season!
Spring has sprung
What does the expression “spring has sprung” mean? It is a playful and poetic way of saying that spring has arrived or that the season of spring is in full swing. It signifies the transition from winter to spring when nature comes alive, flowers start blooming, and the weather becomes warmer. It captures the sense of excitement and renewal associated with the arrival of spring!
Here are a few sentences using “spring has sprung”:
- Look at the greenery. I’d say spring has sprung, wouldn’t you?
- Is there anything you do once spring has sprung? I like to go outdoors more, maybe for a hike or to play sports more!
How to pronounce spring
Spring is pronounced like this: /spriŋ/. Repeat this sentence with me: I like to go to the park during spring. Add a little emphasis on the important words, park & spring.
Idioms about spring
Here are some more idioms about spring to explore. Let’s keep expanding our English! Idioms are useful for our conversational practice, so they are well worth knowing!
| Spring Idioms | Meanings |
|---|---|
| Rain on my parade | To spoil someone’s plans or dampen their mood |
| Fresh as a daisy | To feel or appear refreshed and rejuvenated |
| Brighten up | To make something or someone more cheerful or lively |
| Come rain or shine | Regardless of whether it rains or the sun shines |
| Spring into action | To suddenly become active or energetic |
Related: 21 Winter Idioms + Snow Idioms: Better English Speaking
Idioms with spring
Let’s now look at some Idioms with spring – ones that actually contain the word “spring”:
| Idioms with spring | Definitions of these Idioms with spring! |
|---|---|
| Spring to mind | to come quickly and easily into your thoughts or memory |
| Spring out | to jump or move quickly and suddenly out of a place or container |
| Spring clean | to thoroughly clean a place, especially at the start of spring |
| Spring in your step | to walk energetically or with a lively, confident manner |
| Spring to life | to awaken or become lively and active |
| Full of the joys of spring | to be extremely happy, cheerful, or optimistic |
One of the books I use for idiom reference is “The Great Book of American Idioms: A Dictionary of American Idioms, Sayings, Expressions & Phrases”. It’s a very handy book to have by your side when you are studying!
Idiom sentence practice: let’s use spring idioms and phrases
Let’s now do some idiom sentence practice. With each of today’s spring idioms, we are going to write an example sentence. To gain confidence in English, read and repeat all of these!
| Idioms about spring season | Idiom sentence |
|---|---|
| Spring has sprung | The flowers are blooming, spring has definitely sprung! |
| Head in the clouds | Liam’s always daydreaming, he has his head in the clouds. |
| Ray of hope | Even in difficult times, there’s always a ray of hope. |
| Storm in a teacup | Don’t worry, it’s just a small issue, a storm in a teacup. |
| Spring fever | I feel so energetic and restless, I must have spring fever. |
| Fair-weather friend | Nancy’s not a true friend, just a fair-weather friend. |
| Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed | Look at that little dog, he’s so bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. |
| Rain on my parade | Martin claimed all the credit for my sale at work – he totally rained on my parade! |
| Fresh as a daisy | After a good night’s sleep, she felt fresh as a daisy. |
| Brighten up | Let’s add some colorful decorations to brighten up the room. |
| Come rain or shine | We’ll have a great time at the party, come rain or shine. |
| Spring into action | When the bell rang, the students quickly sprung into action. |
| Spring to mind | When I think of summer, swimming pools spring to mind. |
| Spring out | The cat suddenly sprang out of the box. She gave me a bit of a shock! |
| Spring clean | It’s time to do a thorough spring clean in my house. It is more than a bit messy! |
| Spring in your step | Eve walked with a spring in her step, full of confidence. |
| Spring to life | Once the music started, the party truly sprang to life! |
| Full of the joys of spring | She’s so happy and optimistic, always full of the joys of spring. |
Spring idioms: FAQs
Now that we have looked at many spring idioms, and also done some idiom sentence practice, now would be a good time to consolidate our knowledge by delving a bit deeper – here are some commonly asked questions about some of today’s phrases:
Who said spring has sprung?
“Spring has sprung” is a common expression that many people use to signify the arrival of spring. It is a playful way of saying that the season has arrived or is in full swing. While there isn’t a specific person who originally said it, it is a phrase that has been passed down through generations and is now widely used to capture the excitement and renewal associated with the arrival of spring.
Example sentence:
- Look at all the blossoming flowers! I guess spring has finally sprung, just like they say!
What does it mean to walk around with your Head in the Clouds?
Although we did check out this phrase earlier in the article, let’s now take a sightly more detailed look: To walk around with your head in the clouds means to be daydreaming or not paying attention to your surroundings. It suggests that someone is absorbed in their thoughts or fantasies and is not fully present in the current moment. It can also imply that the person may be oblivious to what is happening around them.
- You need to focus more during meetings. Sometimes it feels like you’re walking around with your head in the clouds.
Can a person be a ray of hope?
Yes, a person can be described as a ray of hope. When referring to someone as a ray of hope, it means they bring optimism or possibility to a situation. They offer encouragement, positivity, and a sense of assurance. Just like a ray of sunlight piercing through the clouds, a person who is seen as a ray of hope brings light and inspiration to others.
- Amidst all the difficulties, Donna emerged as a ray of hope, inspiring everyone to keep pushing forward.
How do you use a storm in a teacup in a sentence?
The phrase “a storm in a teacup” is used to describe a minor or exaggerated problem or conflict. It implies that the situation is blown out of proportion and doesn’t warrant such intense emotions or attention. Here’s an example sentence to better illustrate its usage:
- They argued for hours over who ate the last cookie. It was really just a storm in a teacup!
How can you tell if someone is a fair-weather friend?
You can tell if someone is a fair-weather friend by observing their behavior during challenging times. Fair-weather friends are usually supportive and present in good times but tend to be absent or distant when things get tough. They may only be interested in maintaining the relationship when it benefits them and may lack loyalty and reliability.
Example questions to consider:
- Has this person been there for you during difficult moments?
- Do they only reach out or spend time with you when everything is going well?
- Have they shown consistency and loyalty in the friendship?
Why is it called fair-weather friend?
The term “fair-weather friend” derives its name from the concept of fair weather, which represents pleasant and favorable conditions. A fair-weather friend is someone who is supportive and friendly only during these favorable circumstances, such as when everything is going well or when they can benefit from the relationship. They may not be reliable or supportive during challenging or adverse situations.
What is the opposite of a fair-weather friend?
The opposite of a fair-weather friend is a true or loyal friend. While a fair-weather friend shows support and friendship only in good times, a true friend remains faithful and supportive regardless of the circumstances. A true friend is dependable, trustworthy, and stands by your side during both the ups and downs of life.
Here’s an example:
- Unlike fair-weather friends, true friends are there to support you through thick and thin, never faltering in their loyalty.
Spring idioms: a great way to improve your speaking!
I hope you have enjoyed reading through these spring idioms and have gotten something out of them! So, no matter whether spring has actually sprung or not in your neck of the woods, you will know how to use spring phrases! You can use them to talk about any number of situations. Just to illustrate this, here are a few situations where we can use idioms about spring season:
- Spring in your step: use this idiom when your friend looks lively!
- Brighten up: use this phrase to talk about a room: the new coat of paint has really brightened up the bedroom!
- Fair-weather friend: Charlotte is such a fair-weather friend, I wouldn’t bother worrying what she thinks!