Are there five or four seasons in English? Summer, spring and winter are all agreed upon but what’s the difference between fall idioms and autumn idioms? Simply put, ‘fall’ is American English and ‘autumn’ is British English but they both refer to the same season.
Just remember that ‘fall’ can be used as a noun for the season, but also as a verb to describe a fast downwards movement (and we have some idioms using ‘fall’ as a verb, too).
No matter what you choose to call this season, we have plenty of idioms to describe it. Here we have included explanations and examples of how they may be used in sentences.
Fall idioms and autumn idioms with examples
These autumnal idioms are all about things associated with the season: harvesting crops, leaves falling from trees, and animals preparing for hibernation.
Turn into a pumpkin
The first of our lovely autumn idioms is linked to a popular fairy tale, but can you guess which one? In this story the pumpkin turns into a beautiful coach and at midnight turns into the pumpkin again. You might use this humorous turn of words when you need to go home or to bed before it gets too late.
“Wow, is that the time? I’d better leave before I turn into a pumpkin.”
Reap the harvest
Many crops are harvested in fall, after the farmer has labored during the summer to nurture them. We can use the phrase reap the harvest to refer to a physical harvest of crops, but also in any situation where someone’s hard work has paid off.
“I realize I have been working a lot recently, but I’m confident I will be able to reap the harvest in another year.”
This is just one of many idioms about hard work in English.
The apple of someone’s eye
Warm apple pies, apple bobbing or harvesting ripe apples. There are plenty of ways that fall and apples go hand-in-hand. If you are described as the apple of someone’s eye, consider yourself very lucky. It means they have a soft spot for you. You are loved and cherished above all others.
“I love all my children but my youngest will always be the apple of my eye.”
This also features on our list of food idioms.
A bad apple
The second of our apple-related fall idioms (autumn idioms) isn’t as positive. To be a bad apple is to be the bad or corrupt person within a group who may lead others astray!
“One of my daughter’s friends is a bit of a bad apple. She’s trying to turn everyone against one other.”
A similar phrase would be “It only takes one bad apple to spoil the whole barrel.” This phrase takes the saying a step further, meaning that the one bad person will drag the whole group down or into mischief. Why not find out if there is any truth in this saying?
The apple doesn’t fall (too) far from the tree
The third of our apple-themed idioms is more of a family affair. It’s a lovey way of saying a child has characteristics, qualities or behavioral traits similar to their parents.
“Gosh, isn’t Isabella just like her father. I guess the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.”
Another similar saying to the apple doesn’t fall (too) far from the tree is ‘Like father, like son.’
Turn over a new leaf
This autumn idiom would fit just as well in our spring idioms list. Spring is all about new beginnings and to turn over a new leaf means you wish to start afresh and make changes for the better, usually with regards to your behavior.
“He didn’t do very well last year at school but he’s agreed it’s time to turn over a new leaf this term.”
We have more change idioms like this listed on a separate page.
Neck of the woods
There are few things nicer than taking a walk through a wood or forest during autumn. The leaves are a beautiful shade of gold and brown.
However, there is no forest being referred to in this idiom. When you talk about a particular neck of the woods, you’re referring to the local area.
“I didn’t know you lived in this neck of the woods.”
“James is well settled in his neck of the woods now.”
Autumn years
One of the few autumn idioms which actually mentions the season, autumn years refers to a period towards the end of someone’s life, often following retirement.
“I plan to spend my autumn years cruising around the world.”
“Susan is such an inspiration; the way she has made the most of her autumn years by helping others.”
Note that this doesn’t refer to the years when someone is very elderly and frail and close to death. One of these idioms about dying would be more appropriate in this case.
Drive someone nuts
Nuts may be a choice meal for the squirrel to gather during autumn but ‘nuts’ can also mean crazy, upset or annoyed. So, when you say that someone or something is driving you nuts, it means it or they are making you go crazy or feel very annoyed.
“I just can’t handle her going on and on about the same thing. She is driving me nuts!”
“This laptop is driving me nuts! I can’t get it to do what I want.”
To drive someone crazy, drive someone up the wall and drive someone (a)round the bend all have similar meanings. You can read more about these and other idioms for anger, annoyance and irritation.
Old chestnut
Continuing on the theme of nuts, an old chestnut is a joke, story or anecdote which has been told so many times it has become stale and is no longer funny.
“My dad has a few old chestnuts he always likes to bring out at dinner parties.”
You may hear someone say ‘Ah, that old chestnut’ to respond to such a joke or story.
Squirrel away
Squirrels and other hibernating animals spend this season gathering nuts and other food to keep them going through the winter. So to squirrel away is to save something up or create a stash of something for use in the future.
“I’ve been squirreling away a little bit of money each month so that I can afford a vacation.”
It’s not only money that you can squirrel away; it could also be supplies of food or another item. There are plenty of other money idioms about spending and saving that may be of interest.
Fall idioms focusing on the different meanings of fall
Next, we have some fall idioms which are not about the season, but which use ‘fall’ as a verb.
As easy as falling off a log
One of the fall idioms relating to movement is as easy as falling off a log. As you can imagine, slipping or falling off a log would be a pretty easy thing to do, and this phrase means just that; it describes something that is very easy to do.
“I’ve finally passed my driving test. It was as easy as falling off a log.”
Other ways of describing something easy are ‘as easy as pie’ or ‘as easy as ABC’ – read more about ‘Easy as…’ sayings and idioms here.
The bread always falls butter(ed) side down
Perhaps more of a proverb than an idiom, but it’s very relatable.
The bread always falls buttered side down refers to bad luck. It means that if something is going to go wrong (like dropping a slice of bread), it will go wrong in the worst way possible (i.e. the buttered side will land on the floor, making more of a mess and meaning you can’t use the bread!).
“Not only did I get a flat tire but it was while I was on the way to a job interview. I feel like the bread always falls butter side down.”
The real question is, does bread actually always fall buttered side down? What do you think, and why?
The bigger they are the harder they fall
Are you a fan of MMA or boxing? Then you may have heard the small fighter say in regards to their taller or heavier opponent that the bigger they are the harder they fall.
Even so, this saying isn’t just related to someone’s size. Yes, a bigger person will hit the floor harder than a smaller person. However, it is also a way of saying that anyone with a lot of power or importance will find it hard if they lose it all.
“That was a crushing defeat for the top dog team but as they say, the bigger you are the harder you fall.”
Fall asleep at the wheel
When you are not paying attention, perhaps to your job or your responsibilities, you could be described as falling asleep at the wheel. It can also refer to literally falling asleep while driving, which is very dangerous!
“Our manager hasn’t got a clue what is happening. He’s fallen asleep at the wheel.”
This idiom and also ‘driving me nuts’ can be used when driving idioms are needed to make a point.
Fall guy
Out of all these fall idioms, this one has to be one of the most interesting. It’s not referring to the season and also not the moment of falling.
In fact, it is a common way of describing the person made a scapegoat in a situation. The fall guy is blamed for something that has gone wrong but may not really be the guilty party.
“I feel really bad for Craig. It wasn’t even his idea but they have made him the fall guy!”
Fall between the cracks
When something or someone goes unnoticed or untended, they are said to have fallen between the cracks.
“I was so caught up with my career I let my fitness fall between the cracks.”
“The government doesn’t seem to mind if homeless people fall between the cracks of our healthcare system.”
As you can see, you may end the sentence with this phrase or specify the thing that has the cracks to fall through.
Fall in love
To fall in love is the feeling you have when you start to move from liking someone to loving someone.
“I can’t wait to fall in love with the right person.”
If you’re feeling romantic then there are plenty of other love idioms to choose from.
Fall or autumn? Autumn or fall? We’ll leave that up to you and trust you enjoyed these fall idioms. But be sure to check out the other seasonal idioms (winter is next) and let us know if you guessed the name of the fairy tale mentioned at the beginning!
