Springtime in New York City and Phrases You Might Overhear April 17, 2017

It’s a fairly common understanding that the arrival of spring is one of the most satisfying times of the year. The snow begins to melt, the sun stays out a little bit longer each evening, and the birds seem to sing louder and longer. You’re probably ready to get out of your apartment and take in the fresh air. While you’re out and about, you might overhear some odd English phrases related to spring that may not make literal sense to you. I’ll help you understand these phrases and at the same time, get you ready for spring weather in New York City.

Spring Fever

This is the feeling you get each time this year when you notice that winter is on its way out and spring is just around the corner. You get antsy, you feel eager to spend time outside without feeling miserable, and you start planning activities to do in the warmer weather. Here’s an example of how you might use this phrase:
“I think I have spring fever—all I want to do is spend time outside, look at the beautiful, new flowers, and dust off my sunglasses that have been tucked away all winter!”

Raining Cats and Dogs

As you know, not all spring days bring warmth and sunshine. In order to allow the flowers and trees to rebloom and flourish with new life, frequent rain must take place to provide nourishment for the green to reappear. As you prepare for this frequent rain, you might overhear someone refer to the precipitation to “raining cats and dogs.” Simply put, this just translates to heavy and long-lasting rain. Here’s how you might hear it:
“I can’t believe how heavy this rain is! It’s raining cats and dogs out there!”

April Showers Bring May Flowers

This is along the same lines as “raining cats and dogs:” in order for the May flowers to bloom and display new life, the rain must come down often and frequently. April is generally known for a month that rains quite frequently, while May is traditionally regarded as the official launch of spring. Here’s an example of how you might hear this phrase in a sentence:
“Even though I’m so tired of bringing my umbrella with me everyday, I have to remind myself that April showers bring May flowers.”

Have a Green Thumb

As spring comes back in full force, you start to see more green around you, even in New York City! You might pass people tending to their planters on their balconies, or you might see landscapers tending to the boulevards on Park Avenue. These are the people that understand plant and gardening maintenance, which means they have a “green thumb.” Not everyone has that skill or intuition, but it’s a phrase of reference for those that do. Here’s an example of how you might overhear someone use this phrase:
“She’s got the best green thumb! She can grow the best vegetables in New York City, better than anyone else I know!”

When It Rains, It Pours

Have you ever had a day when it seems like nothing is going your way? Maybe you start your day by getting caught in the rain, then you miss your train, and then maybe you slip and fall on the stairs? We have a phrase for this: “When it rains, it pours,” which simply means you can’t quite catch a break, that everything that could possibly go wrong, DOES go wrong. Here’s an example of how you might overhear someone say the phrase in a sentence:
“What a horrible start to my day. First I lost my MetroCard, then I missed my connecting train, and then my purse got caught in the revolving door! I guess when it rains, it pours!”

A Spring in One’s Step

This is kind of the opposite of “when it rains, it pours.” Have you ever had one of those days when you’re just in a fantastic mood, and the sun is shining, and you’re feeling jovial and excited about everything? When you’re in this mood, do you ever notice that you might walk lighter or feel like you’re walking on a cloud? One way to say this is that you’ve got a “spring in your step.” Here’s an example of how you might use it in a sentence:
“Everything was going my way that day, and I was simply in the best mood. Even when I was walking around in the streets, I had a spring in my step, and it felt like I was almost skipping!”