Easy-to-Use Fall Idioms, Phrases, and Words

Of the official four seasons in English—spring, summer, autumn, and winter; the one with the most spoken about is autumn/fall. This is because of the debate between the English and Americans about whether the season should be called autumn or fall. However, it is wise to learn that both these terms are correct and refer to the same season; their difference lies in the fact that fall is used in American grammar and autumn is used in British grammar.

The word “fall,” however, isn’t only used to name a season in the year as a noun; it is also used as a verb to describe a fast descent of an object or person toward the ground. The English language provides ample autumn idioms and phrases to use the noun form of fall or autumn when talking about seasons. This article has a few examples: learn new fall-autumn season idioms and phrases inspired by autumn to polish your spoken and written English, then keep reading.

Some autumn phrases and idioms in the English language

Here are some fall phrases and words you can incorporate into your everyday conversation to spice up your grammar this fall.

1. Fall is in the air

The smell of pumpkin spice lattes lingers in the air, and the sound of crunching leaves is music to my ears—fall is definitely in the air!

2. As crisp as an apple

The morning air is so crisp it feels like biting into a juicy apple. This is the perfect time making it the perfect time to go camping.

3. The leaves are turning

Let’s drive through the countryside, the breathtaking beauty of the leaves turning different shades of red, gold, and orange.

4. Harvest time

Harvest time is one of the busiest times for farmers as they gather their crops, and the farmers’ markets all over the country will be filled with an abundance of fresh fruits and good vegetables.

5. Autumnal equinox

The autumnal equinox marks the transition from summer to fall/autumn. At this time, the days start to become shorter, and the nights are longer.

6. A chill in the air

It’s time to bring out the warm sweaters, socks, and scarves because there’s a slight chill in the air; it means that autumn is right around the corner.

7. Crisp autumn mornings

Start your day with a brisk walk in the park, breathing in the crispness of the autumn mornings and enjoying the colorful nature of autumn.

8. Fall foliage

Venture into the forest and witness nature’s artwork as the trees display a stunning array of reds, oranges, and yellows.

9. Pumpkin spice everything

It is pumpkin season, so we get to put pumpkin spice in every threat, like pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice latte, and even pumpkin spice pancakes.

10. Sweater weather

Get yourself a cozy sweater and oversized sweater, warm blankets, and hot cocoa; it is time for the sweater weather as fall is upon us.

11. Reap the harvest

Many crops come into maturity in fall; the farmers have toiled all summer to make sure that these crops turn out fit for consumption and for their profit. This phrase can be used to talk about a person’s hard work paying off.

Example:

Amelia has been working on that mechanical project for months; hopefully, she’ll reap the harvest of all her hard work and get the recognition she deserves.

12. The apple of my eyes

Fall is a time strongly associated with the harvesting and falling apples from the trees. Fall is also a time to eat warm homemade apple pies or harvest ripe apples from the orchard. The idiom “apple of my eyes” is an exceptional reference. It holds a high esteem and love for the person involved.

Example:

Esther called Mr. Henry the apple of her eye and told the class how much she adores him.

13. Going nuts for something or someone

That feeling you have when you are attracted to someone and all you want is to spend quality time with them, and they are all you can talk about. In that period, you might say, “I’m going nuts for this person.” Or a different scenario where you are trying to figure out the solution to a problem, and in your frustration, you say, “This job/exercise is so tasking, I think I’m going nuts.” This phrase could be used to express love, frustration, and anger.

14. To squirrel away

Fall is when the squirrels work the most to collect and store nuts for the incoming winter. The idiom “to squirrel away” means to save or keep aside something for future use; this, in most cases, is money. It could also be an appliance or a new toolbox you save for later use.

Example:

Anna told our mother she had been squirreling money from her day job to take herself on a well-deserved shopping spree.

15. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree

This idiom is used to show similarities between a parent and their child. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, which is another way of saying that children look or act like their parents, and since the apple trees cannot bear oranges, parents cannot have children who don’t look or act like them in certain situations.

16. Turn a new leaf

Like the trees lose their leaves in the fall and grow new ones in spring, people can also become new. There is always that time when it gets challenging, nothing seems to be going your way, and there’s a list of things to change about your approach, mindset, or behaviors. In these cases, you can always look forward to the following phase of your life; you can start over on a clean slate and, in turn, a new leaf in character, approach, or behavior.

Example:

Jake had a rough past year; he had issues at school, and things weren’t their best at home. But it’s a new start, and I hope he turns a new leaf and changes his attitude to life.

17. To get wind of something

Nowadays, information spreads fast, especially the kind that was supposed to stay a secret. A low-key way to tell a friend or colleague that you have the information and are willing to share is by starting the conversation by saying you got wind of something.

Example:

Hey Matthias, you submitted a proposal to the manager’s desk to be in charge of the new project, right? Well, I got wind of news that you just might be getting the job.

18. Autumn years

Autumn marks the year’s end; once it is that season, you know winter is drawing closer and closer with each day. The same goes for the phrase autumn years. The autumn years of a human is a time later in a person’s life.

Example:

Andrew decided to start a business in his autumn years; so far, he has made thousands of dollars and plans to pass the company down to his children.

Season idioms show the richness of the language

Exploring autumn idioms reveals the richness of the English language that captures the essence of this Fall/autumn season. From “falling leaves” to “harvest time,” these autumn expressions evoke vivid imagery and convey a unique charm.

Whether you prefer to say “autumn” or “fall,” the beauty of English or any other language lies in its ability to shape our perception of the changing seasons. So, embrace the colorful foliage and cozy moments, and let these autumn sayings add a touch of warmth to your conversations.