As the crisp air settles in and autumn paints the world in warm hues, it can be easy to see how this season reflects many facets of our lives: moments of resilience, comfort, and transformation. Just like autumn helps to prepare us for winter, these idioms offer us an insight into facing challenges, embracing change, and finding rest when needed. Discover the meaning of idioms below, including 'Turning Over a New Leaf'.
In this next set of 5 short stories below for this week, I aim to explore five idioms that echo the essence of the season:
As Right as Rain – Feeling perfect again after a difficult time.
Put on a Brave Face – A story of courage and resilience during a rather challenging time.
Hit the Hay – A moment of rest and recharging after a long and tiring day.
A Bright Spark – A celebration of creativity and brilliance.
Turning Over a New Leaf – A reflection on fresh starts and embracing growth, including after past mistakes
Character 1 has been feeling down, so Character 2 suggests a walk in the autumn drizzle.
Character 1: This walk is helping a lot. I’m starting to feel right as rain.
Character 2: Right as rain? How can rain be right?
Character 1: Good question! It means feeling refreshed, like how the rain helps nature feel fresh and lively.
Character 2: So right as rain means feeling better or more comfortable?
Character 1: Exactly! Just like how rain brings new energy to plants, I feel better after a refreshing walk.
Character 2: I get it! You feel refreshed, like rain making everything bright and new.
Character 1 is nervous about a big family gathering, and Character 2 offers encouragement.
Character 1: I’m not sure I’m ready for this big gathering… but I’ll try to put on a brave face.
Character 2: Put on a brave face? What does that mean?
Character 1: Imagine you’re feeling worried or nervous about something, but you smile and try to look confident anyway. That’s what it means.
Character 2: So it means acting brave, even if you don’t feel brave inside?
Character 1: Exactly. Sometimes, pretending to be brave can help you feel brave.
Character 2: Ah I get it now! It’s like trying to look confident to help yourself feel better.
Characters 1 and 2 are tired after spending the day at a fall fair, enjoying hayrides, pumpkin picking, and apple cider. They’re finally heading home, exhausted but happy.
Character 1: Well, what a day! I’m so tired—I’m ready to hit the hay.
Character 2: Hit the hay? Does that mean you’re going to punch hay?
Character 1: [Laughs] Not exactly! It’s just an old saying that means going to sleep. Back in the day, people used to sleep on hay or straw-filled mattresses, so "hit the hay" became a way to say, “go to bed.”
Character 2: Oh, that makes sense to me now! So it’s like saying, “I’m off to bed”?
Character 1: Yes, exactly! And after a day like we've had today, I’m more than ready.
Character 2: Same here—I could fall asleep, even standing up after all that walking!
Character 1: [Yawns] Then let’s both hit the hay before we’re too tired to even move!
They both laugh together as they climb into the car, ready to drive home and end the day with a good night’s sleep.
Liam, who is on the spectrum, goes out with one of his friends, Sam. Liam is curious but a little confused about why people celebrate Guy Fawkes Night with bonfires and fireworks. When his friend Sam invites him to a local bonfire event and fireworks display, Liam asks what it’s all about, and Sam calls him “a bright spark” for being so eager to learn.
Liam: “A bright spark? I’m not sure what that means. And why do people celebrate with all these fireworks?”
Sam: “Well, calling someone a bright spark means they’re clever or full of curiosity—like you are! You always want to know more about things.”
Liam: “Oh, so a bright spark is like someone who shines… in a different way?”
Sam: “Exactly! And on Guy Fawkes Night, we celebrate with real bright sparks—fireworks—to remember an important event in history. You see, a man named Guy Fawkes tried to set off a big explosion in 1605, under the Houses of Parliament in London, UK, on November 5th of that year. That plot ended in failure. People light bonfires to remember that night. The fireworks are a way to show excitement, and each one lights up briefly with a mixture of colours, kind of like a flash of cleverness.”
Liam: “I see. Each firework is like a bright spark, like you said about people. So it’s a way of saying someone’s got a bit of brightness, like they’re clever or curious?”
Sam: “Exactly! And I think you’re definitely a bright spark, Liam. You always ask good questions and try to understand things.”
As they watch the fireworks light up the sky in bursts of colours, Liam starts to feel a connection to the “bright spark” idea. Each firework reminds him of curiosity and excitement, like moments of discovery. Watching the “bright sparks” above, Liam realizes that he, too, has his own brightness, a curiosity that helps him see the world in unique ways.
Alex, who is on the spectrum, is visiting his grandparents.
Plot: Alex has been feeling disappointed about mistakes he made on a recent school project, struggling to shake off the frustration. Sensing Alex’s mood, Grandpa Joe suggests they go for a walk through the autumn woods to help clear his mind. As they walk, they start collecting fallen leaves, some of them with different shapes. There are vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows, each one unique.
Alex: “I wish I could just forget about that project I messed up.”
Grandpa Joe: “Well, you know, Alex, that project is just one leaf on the tree of things you’ll work on. Trees shed their leaves every autumn so they can grow fresh ones. Ever heard the phrase turning over a new leaf?”
Alex: “Turning over a new leaf? Do trees really flip over the leaves?”
Grandpa Joe: [Chuckles] “Not exactly. Turning over a new leaf is a way of saying we can start fresh. Just like trees drop old leaves to get ready for new ones, we can learn from our mistakes, let them go, and begin again.”
Alex: “So, if I ‘turn over a new leaf,’ I get a chance to start over?”
Grandpa Joe: “Yes, and that’s the best part. Every season, trees prepare for a new beginning, just like we all can. Each mistake gives us something to learn, and that’s like the first step towards something better.”
Alex: “Ah, I think I understand it now. I can turn over a new leaf and start fresh, just like the trees. Maybe I can try the project again.”
Grandpa Joe: “Exactly! You’re growing all the time, just like these trees. And every time you ‘turn over a new leaf,’ you’re giving yourself another chance to try again with a little more wisdom.”
As they walk, Alex picks up a particularly bright leaf, holding it up to the sky. It feels like a reminder of his own fresh start, a way to see his mistake as part of the process, not the end. For the first time in days, he feels lighter, ready to move forward and try again.
What do you think about this week’s idiom stories? Have you ever found yourself needing to “put on a brave face” or feeling “as right as rain” after a difficult time? Which of these idioms do you connect with the most, and why?
If you enjoyed these, why not read the idiom stories in the final part (part 3) of the autumn series here.
I’d love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to share your favourite autumn related idioms, personal experiences, or suggestions for future stories in the comments below. Let’s try to keep the conversation going!
And in case you've not seen part 1, please click on the link here.
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