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节目简介
来源：小宇宙
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1. Dog days of summer
If you’ve ever lived through a sweltering July, you know what this feels like: the air is thick, the sun is relentless, and even the dogs are too hot to move. Ancient astronomers noticed that Sirius, the “Dog Star,” rose with the sun during the hottest weeks of summer, so they blamed it for the heat. And just like that, we got an idiom for the most unbearable stretch of the year.
While the star isn’t actually making it hotter, the phrase stuck. Today, we use it to complain about those sticky, endless days when you just want to hide indoors with the AC on.
三伏天；一年中最热、最闷热的日子
雅思口语例句：
I hate the dog days of summer because it’s so humid that even walking to the store feels exhausting.
2. Cool as a cucumber
Imagine sitting outside on a sweltering day while everyone around you is fanning themselves and sweating through their shirts. Meanwhile, you’re calm, relaxed, and totally unbothered — that’s being cool as a cucumber.
The idiom works on two levels: literally, cucumbers stay cool inside even when sitting in the sun; figuratively, it means staying calm and composed, no matter how heated the situation gets. It’s perfect for describing both a refreshing vibe and someone who never panics.
镇定自若；（也可形容）清爽凉快
雅思口语例句：
Even when everyone was panicking about the heatwave, my brother stayed cool as a cucumber.
3. In the heat of the moment
You’re having an argument, emotions are running high, and you say something you don’t really mean. Later, you apologize and say, “I didn’t mean it — I said it in the heat of the moment.”
This idiom draws on the idea of being “heated” or overwhelmed by strong feelings. It’s not just about summer weather; it’s about making impulsive decisions when you’re caught up in the intensity of the situation.
一时冲动；情急之下
雅思口语例句：
I once snapped at my friend in the heat of the moment, and I felt terrible about it afterward.
4. Make hay while the sun shines
If you’re a farmer, you know you have to dry hay while the weather is good because once the rain comes, it’s ruined. That’s the idea behind this idiom: take advantage of a good opportunity while it lasts.
It’s not just for farmers. You can use it for summer plans, too: “We should go to the beach this weekend; make hay while the sun shines!” It’s all about seizing the moment, especially when the conditions are perfect.
雅思口语例句：
I always make hay while the sun shines and study hard when I’m feeling motivated.
5. A breath of fresh air
You’ve been stuck in a stuffy office all day, and then you step outside. The air is cool, clean, and invigorating and suddenly, you feel like you can breathe again. That’s a breath of fresh air.
Figuratively, it also describes something or someone that feels refreshing and new. After a long, hot summer, a cool evening breeze can be a breath of fresh air, just like meeting someone with a sunny personality after a stressful week.
一股清流；令人耳目一新的人 / 事物
雅思口语例句：
Moving to the countryside was a breath of fresh air for me after years of living in a busy city.
6. Hot under the collar
You’re stuck in traffic on a 35°C day, and the car AC is broken. You start getting frustrated, your face gets red, and you feel tense. That’s being hot under the collar.
Originally, it described the physical heat of being too warm, but today it’s mostly used to mean being angry, annoyed, or flustered. The “collar” part refers to how tight clothing can make you feel even hotter when you’re upset.
怒火中烧；恼羞成怒
雅思口语例句：
I get hot under the collar when people are rude to service workers.
7. Burn the midnight oil
If you’re up late studying or working, the old saying goes you’re “burning the midnight oil” because before electricity, people used oil lamps to work after dark.
While it doesn’t only apply to summer, it’s a common phrase students use during summer exams or when cramming for a big trip. It means staying up late to finish something important.
开夜车；熬夜苦干
雅思口语例句：
I had to burn the midnight oil to finish my summer internship report before the deadline.
8. Take a rain check
If someone invites you to a summer barbecue, but you can’t make it, you might say, “Can I take a rain check?” That means you want to reschedule for later.
The phrase comes from baseball in the 1800s. If a game was rained out, the stadium would give fans a “rain check” — a ticket to come back for another game. Now, it’s used for any plans you can’t keep right now.
改期；下次再约
雅思口语例句：
I’d love to go to the beach with you, but I have to take a rain check — I’m busy this weekend.
9. A ray of sunshine
If someone is always cheerful and makes everyone around them feel better, they’re a ray of sunshine — like the first warm light on a cloudy summer day.
It’s a sweet way to describe someone with a positive attitude. You can also use it for things that make you happy: “That iced coffee was a ray of sunshine on a hot afternoon.”
小太阳；给人带来快乐的人 / 事物
雅思口语例句：
My little cousin is a real ray of sunshine; she always makes family gatherings more fun.
10. Go the extra mile
If you “go the extra mile,” you’re doing more than what’s required, like walking an extra mile in the summer heat to help a friend.
The phrase comes from the Bible, where it says if someone forces you to walk one mile with them, walk two. Today, it means making an extra effort, whether it’s for work, school, or summer plans.
加倍努力；多做一步
雅思口语例句：
My teacher went the extra mile to help me prepare for my summer exam.
11. Hit the hay
If you’re tired after a long summer day, you might say, “I’m going to hit the hay.” That means you’re going to bed.
The phrase comes from the old days when people slept on mattresses filled with hay. “Hitting the hay” meant plopping down on your bed. Now, it’s a casual way to say you’re going to sleep.
上床睡觉；倒头就睡
雅思口语例句：
After hiking all day, I was ready to hit the hay as soon as I got home.
12. Break the ice
If you’re at a summer party and feeling nervous about talking to new people, you might “break the ice” by making a joke or asking a casual question. It means easing tension and making people feel more comfortable.
The phrase comes from ships that had to break through ice to sail. “Breaking the ice” meant making a way forward, just like starting a conversation.
打破僵局；破冰
雅思口语例句：
Playing video games together helped break the ice between me and my new summer classmates.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
顺便打个广告~~
新鲜出炉：
* 《雅思小作文柱状图范文集》
* 《雅思小作文折线图范文集》
Mac👨🏫总被问：
雅思小作文怎么提分？ 练了一堆还是没方向，怎么办？
所以他写了雅思小作文范文集
这些作文按6.5分-9分整理
每篇都标注了得分点分析（为啥这篇作文能得X分），
把高分短语、衔接词、词汇都单独列出来了
这个范文集放在了我们的知识星球，星球里除了这本书，还有10万字的雅思口语书，听说读写、语法基础知识等内容。
需要的朋友戳～t.zsxq.com 或每期播客Show notes最下方的海报 ～🐱🐱
星球目前的价格是388元/年，欢迎加入。如不适合，星球可以3天无理由退款，付的款会原路返还给你。
1. Dog days of summer
If you’ve ever lived through a sweltering July, you know what this feels like: the air is thick, the sun is relentless, and even the dogs are too hot to move. Ancient astronomers noticed that Sirius, the “Dog Star,” rose with the sun during the hottest weeks of summer, so they blamed it for the heat. And just like that, we got an idiom for the most unbearable stretch of the year.
While the star isn’t actually making it hotter, the phrase stuck. Today, we use it to complain about those sticky, endless days when you just want to hide indoors with the AC on.
三伏天；一年中最热、最闷热的日子
雅思口语例句：
I hate the dog days of summer because it’s so humid that even walking to the store feels exhausting.
2. Cool as a cucumber
Imagine sitting outside on a sweltering day while everyone around you is fanning themselves and sweating through their shirts. Meanwhile, you’re calm, relaxed, and totally unbothered — that’s being cool as a cucumber.
The idiom works on two levels: literally, cucumbers stay cool inside even when sitting in the sun; figuratively, it means staying calm and composed, no matter how heated the situation gets. It’s perfect for describing both a refreshing vibe and someone who never panics.
镇定自若；（也可形容）清爽凉快
雅思口语例句：
Even when everyone was panicking about the heatwave, my brother stayed cool as a cucumber.
3. In the heat of the moment
You’re having an argument, emotions are running high, and you say something you don’t really mean. Later, you apologize and say, “I didn’t mean it — I said it in the heat of the moment.”
This idiom draws on the idea of being “heated” or overwhelmed by strong feelings. It’s not just about summer weather; it’s about making impulsive decisions when you’re caught up in the intensity of the situation.
一时冲动；情急之下
雅思口语例句：
I once snapped at my friend in the heat of the moment, and I felt terrible about it afterward.
4. Make hay while the sun shines
If you’re a farmer, you know you have to dry hay while the weather is good because once the rain comes, it’s ruined. That’s the idea behind this idiom: take advantage of a good opportunity while it lasts.
It’s not just for farmers. You can use it for summer plans, too: “We should go to the beach this weekend; make hay while the sun shines!” It’s all about seizing the moment, especially when the conditions are perfect.
雅思口语例句：
I always make hay while the sun shines and study hard when I’m feeling motivated.
5. A breath of fresh air
You’ve been stuck in a stuffy office all day, and then you step outside. The air is cool, clean, and invigorating and suddenly, you feel like you can breathe again. That’s a breath of fresh air.
Figuratively, it also describes something or someone that feels refreshing and new. After a long, hot summer, a cool evening breeze can be a breath of fresh air, just like meeting someone with a sunny personality after a stressful week.
一股清流；令人耳目一新的人 / 事物
雅思口语例句：
Moving to the countryside was a breath of fresh air for me after years of living in a busy city.
6. Hot under the collar
You’re stuck in traffic on a 35°C day, and the car AC is broken. You start getting frustrated, your face gets red, and you feel tense. That’s being hot under the collar.
Originally, it described the physical heat of being too warm, but today it’s mostly used to mean being angry, annoyed, or flustered. The “collar” part refers to how tight clothing can make you feel even hotter when you’re upset.
怒火中烧；恼羞成怒
雅思口语例句：
I get hot under the collar when people are rude to service workers.
7. Burn the midnight oil
If you’re up late studying or working, the old saying goes you’re “burning the midnight oil” because before electricity, people used oil lamps to work after dark.
While it doesn’t only apply to summer, it’s a common phrase students use during summer exams or when cramming for a big trip. It means staying up late to finish something important.
开夜车；熬夜苦干
雅思口语例句：
I had to burn the midnight oil to finish my summer internship report before the deadline.
8. Take a rain check
If someone invites you to a summer barbecue, but you can’t make it, you might say, “Can I take a rain check?” That means you want to reschedule for later.
The phrase comes from baseball in the 1800s. If a game was rained out, the stadium would give fans a “rain check” — a ticket to come back for another game. Now, it’s used for any plans you can’t keep right now.
改期；下次再约
雅思口语例句：
I’d love to go to the beach with you, but I have to take a rain check — I’m busy this weekend.
9. A ray of sunshine
If someone is always cheerful and makes everyone around them feel better, they’re a ray of sunshine — like the first warm light on a cloudy summer day.
It’s a sweet way to describe someone with a positive attitude. You can also use it for things that make you happy: “That iced coffee was a ray of sunshine on a hot afternoon.”
小太阳；给人带来快乐的人 / 事物
雅思口语例句：
My little cousin is a real ray of sunshine; she always makes family gatherings more fun.
10. Go the extra mile
If you “go the extra mile,” you’re doing more than what’s required, like walking an extra mile in the summer heat to help a friend.
The phrase comes from the Bible, where it says if someone forces you to walk one mile with them, walk two. Today, it means making an extra effort, whether it’s for work, school, or summer plans.
加倍努力；多做一步
雅思口语例句：
My teacher went the extra mile to help me prepare for my summer exam.
11. Hit the hay
If you’re tired after a long summer day, you might say, “I’m going to hit the hay.” That means you’re going to bed.
The phrase comes from the old days when people slept on mattresses filled with hay. “Hitting the hay” meant plopping down on your bed. Now, it’s a casual way to say you’re going to sleep.
上床睡觉；倒头就睡
雅思口语例句：
After hiking all day, I was ready to hit the hay as soon as I got home.
12. Break the ice
If you’re at a summer party and feeling nervous about talking to new people, you might “break the ice” by making a joke or asking a casual question. It means easing tension and making people feel more comfortable.
The phrase comes from ships that had to break through ice to sail. “Breaking the ice” meant making a way forward, just like starting a conversation.
打破僵局；破冰
雅思口语例句：
Playing video games together helped break the ice between me and my new summer classmates.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
顺便打个广告~~
新鲜出炉：
* 《雅思小作文柱状图范文集》
* 《雅思小作文折线图范文集》
Mac👨🏫总被问：
雅思小作文怎么提分？ 练了一堆还是没方向，怎么办？
所以他写了雅思小作文范文集
这些作文按6.5分-9分整理
每篇都标注了得分点分析（为啥这篇作文能得X分），
把高分短语、衔接词、词汇都单独列出来了
这个范文集放在了我们的知识星球，星球里除了这本书，还有10万字的雅思口语书，听说读写、语法基础知识等内容。
需要的朋友戳～t.zsxq.com 或每期播客Show notes最下方的海报 ～🐱🐱
星球目前的价格是388元/年，欢迎加入。如不适合，星球可以3天无理由退款，付的款会原路返还给你。
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