spring fever: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2colloquial
Quick answer
What does “spring fever” mean?
A feeling of restlessness or excitement that many people experience during the onset of spring, often characterized by increased energy, daydreaming, or a desire for change.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A feeling of restlessness or excitement that many people experience during the onset of spring, often characterized by increased energy, daydreaming, or a desire for change.
Used metaphorically to describe a sudden surge of productivity, creative energy, or romantic interest that coincides with seasonal change; can also refer to a general state of lethargy or distraction associated with seasonal transition in some contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Concept and term are identical in both varieties. No significant lexical or semantic difference.
Connotations
Slightly more common in American cultural discourse (e.g., linked to school breaks, 'spring break'), but equally understood and used in British English.
Frequency
Comparable frequency; seasonal usage spikes in late winter/early spring.
Grammar
How to Use “spring fever” in a Sentence
[Subject] has/got spring fever.Spring fever is affecting [subject].[Subject] is suffering from spring fever.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spring fever” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He's in a spring-fever daze.
- A spring-fever restlessness took hold.
American English
- She had a spring-fever energy about her.
- It was a classic spring-fever afternoon.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used informally to explain dips in concentration or bursts of new initiative among staff in spring. ('The team has a bit of spring fever this week – lots of ideas but focus is low.')
Academic
Rare in formal writing; may appear in sociological, psychological, or literary analyses of seasonal effects on human behaviour.
Everyday
Common in casual conversation to explain one's own or others' moods, daydreaming, or desire to be outdoors. ('I can't concentrate, must be spring fever.')
Technical
Not a technical medical or psychological term. Would not be used in clinical diagnoses.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “spring fever”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “spring fever”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spring fever”
- Using it to describe an actual illness or allergy ('I have spring fever' meaning hay fever).
- Capitalising it as a proper noun.
- Using it outside a seasonal context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a cultural and colloquial term describing a common set of feelings associated with the season change. It is not a clinical diagnosis.
Yes, while often positive (energy, excitement), it can imply distraction, restlessness, or an inability to concentrate on routine tasks.
Not a direct, equally common equivalent. Terms like 'autumn melancholy' or 'fall slump' exist but are less established than 'spring fever'.
Use it as a compound noun, often with verbs like 'have', 'get', or 'catch': 'I've got a serious case of spring fever – I just booked a spontaneous trip.'
A feeling of restlessness or excitement that many people experience during the onset of spring, often characterized by increased energy, daydreaming, or a desire for change.
Spring fever is usually colloquial in register.
Spring fever: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsprɪŋ ˈfiːvə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsprɪŋ ˈfiːvɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It must be spring fever.”
- “She's got a bad case of spring fever.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SPRING (coil) loaded with FEVERish energy, ready to bounce into action when the season changes.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEASONAL CHANGE IS A PHYSICAL ILLNESS (with positive symptoms).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'spring fever' be LEAST appropriate?