Spring is in the air!

The weather’s been doing weird things again! Australia has had its hottest December and January on record. Some areas reached brutal temperatures of 48°C and night time temperatures of around 33°C resulting in roads melting, animals dying including thousands of bats, and of course major bush fires. Meanwhile, in the USA, they’ve been experiencing the same extreme temperatures only in the minus as the Arctic freeze took over the country encouraging Donald Trump to make yet more ridiculous tweets concerning global warming. Here in Europe, the winter has been mild, grey and rather dreary. I think we are all ready for a change of season, and for us it’s a move into Spring, a season of expectation, renewal, growth and colour. No wonder there are so many expressions in English concerning Spring. Here are jsut a few.

• To be full of the joys of spring (to be happy)

 Peter bounced into the office this morning, full of the joys of spring. He and his wife are expecting their first baby!
  

• To be no spring chicken (to be no longer young)

 Josie is no spring chicken, but she is very active in all aspects of village life.
 

• To spring to mind (to suddenly come into your head)

When thinking of classical composers, Mozart immediately springs to mind.

•  To spring up like mushrooms (to appear everywhere in large numbers)

Out of town shopping malls having been springing up like mushrooms over the past few years, resulting in the gradual death of our town centres.
 

•  To spring clean (to clean a room or a house very thoroughly, usually in spring)

 We all decided it was time to give our flat a spring clean.

• To spring to life/action (to suddenly be full of energy)

 Paula turned the key and the car engine sprang to life.
During the second half of the match, the striker finally sprang into action and scored a great goal.
 
 
So, spring to life and learn some of these expressions. Even if you are no spring chicken, it’s never too late to improve your English! ​