Indian summer
Late seasonal warmth
Indian summer is a period of warm, dry weather occurring in autumn after the first frost.
The warmth feels borrowed or unexpected—summer returning briefly before winter settles in.
The phrase extends to any late flourishing: She enjoyed an Indian summer of creativity in her seventies.
The term dates to 18th-century America; its origin is uncertain.
Mildly warm, soothing
- warmModerately heated, or friendly
- sunnyBright with daylight
- temperateMild, avoiding extremes
- mildModerate in intensity
golden · hazy · humid · gentle · calm · clear · bright · unseasonable
Arriving after expected
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- reprievePostponement of punishment
- fleetingPassing very quickly
- borrowed timeExtension beyond expected limits
last gasp · respite · interlude · temporary · transient · ephemeral · waning · afterglow
Gathering mature crops
- foliagePlant's leafy covering
- goldenrodYellow wildflower, often blamed
- mapleSap-yielding hardwood tree
- pumpkinLarge orange autumn gourd
acorn · chrysanthemum · hayride · cider · frost · equinox · cornstalk · scarecrow
Renewed energy after fatigue
- late bloomFlower appearing past season
- resurgenceReturn after dormancy
- renewalMaking current again
- revivalReturn after decline
renaissance · flourishing · late career · maturation · peak · prime · twilight years · golden years
balmy
Mildly warm, soothing
mild · golden · hazy · humid · gentle · calm · clear · bright · unseasonable · lingering
belated
Arriving after expected
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- reprievePostponement of punishment
- fleetingPassing very quickly
borrowed time · last gasp · respite · interlude · temporary · transient · ephemeral · waning · afterglow
harvest
Gathering mature crops
- foliagePlant's leafy covering
- goldenrodYellow wildflower, often blamed
- mapleSap-yielding hardwood tree
pumpkin · acorn · chrysanthemum · hayride · cider · frost · equinox · cornstalk · scarecrow · hickory
second wind
Renewed energy after fatigue
- late bloomFlower appearing past season
- resurgenceReturn after dormancy
- renewalMaking current again
revival · renaissance · flourishing · late career · maturation · peak · prime · twilight years · golden years · autumn years
- seasonsautumn, winter, spring, fall, early spring
- autumnautumn leaves, leaf fall, fall, autumn equinox, golden leaves
- New EnglandMaine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut
- Seasonal Changesbloom, thaw, freeze, leafing, budding
- Weather Idiomsunder the weather, when it rains it pours, come rain or shine, rain check, take a rain check
- seasonal poetryhaiku, Christmas carol, Easter hymn, autumn poem, seasonal imagery
Indian summercold snap
Brief period of bitter chill
cold spell · hard freeze · killing frost · early frost · late frost
Indian summerearly frost
Cold arriving ahead of schedule
twilight years · winter of discontent · last gasp · midlife crisis
summer, summertime, summers, indigo, India, Indian, summery, Indiana