Autumn in idioms: 8 English expressions Brits really use

Autumn in Britain means more than rain and early sunsets — it comes with its own language. Brits love idioms: fixed, colourful phrases whose meaning you cannot guess from the separate words. The British Embassy shared a seasonal set of them, and we have expanded it. Learn these and you will understand native speakers far more easily.

First, two trendy autumn words you have surely met in cafes and on social media: a pumpkin spice latte (coffee with pumpkin syrup and cinnamon, the signature drink of the season) and brain fog (a woolly, tired state in which it is hard to concentrate). Now for the idioms themselves.

Change and the season

Turn over a new leaf — to make a fresh start and change your behaviour for the better. With leaves falling from the trees, it is a very autumnal image. After the summer she decided to turn over a new leaf and start running every morning.

Indian summer — a period of unexpectedly warm, sunny weather in the middle of autumn. We had a lovely Indian summer in October this year.

The nights are drawing in — a classic British way of saying that it is getting dark earlier as autumn goes on. It is only five o’clock and it is already dark — the nights are really drawing in.

Saving up and hard times

To squirrel something away — to store or save something for the future, the way a squirrel hides nuts for winter. She squirrels away a little money every month.

To make hay while the sun shines — to make the most of a good opportunity while you can. The weather is good, so let’s make hay while the sun shines and finish the garden.

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To weather the storm — to survive a difficult period and come through it. Many small businesses managed to weather the storm last winter.

Age and conversation

An old chestnut — a story or joke that has been repeated so often it has become boring. Not that old chestnut again!

One’s autumn years (or golden years) — the later part of life, the time around and after retirement. He took up painting in his autumn years.

One last tip: do not try to learn them all at once, or you really will get that brain fog. Take one or two idioms a week, say them out loud and invent your own example — and soon they will surface naturally when you talk to Brits. So which of these phrases best describes your autumn?