After months of grey skies and drizzle, the nation is currently basking in temperatures more suited to Ibiza than Ipswich.
With the rare sight of sunburnt shoulders appearing in beer gardens across the country, the one thing you can guarantee is that everyone’s talking about the heat.
But how do Brits describe hot weather? The experts at online English classes and courses app Preply have rounded up 10 quintessentially British hot weather phrases.
1. Scorchio
A phrase that owes much of its popularity to the 90s comedy show The Fast Show, “scorchio” has become a mainstay in English vocabulary, particularly when temperatures push above 20°C.
The word derives from the adjective “scorching,” meaning extremely hot.
2. Boiling
Brits love a bit of hyperbole, and “boiling” is the go-to declaration when it’s even slightly above jacket-wearing-weather. Whether it’s 25°C or a rare heatwave pushing into the 30s, someone, somewhere, will say, “It’s absolutely boiling today!”
3. Sweaty Betty
As a nation, we’re not the most equipped to handle extreme temperatures. As such,we’ve developed our own phrases for those who fall into the hands of the heat.
This is where the phrase “Sweaty Betty” comes in. It captures the sticky, humid side of hot weather we experience in our seemingly air-conditioning-less land.
Nothing to do with the popular active-wear brand, if you hear “I’m a Sweaty Betty” today, you know the heat has reached the point of discomfort. Often used humorously, it’s a favourite among those suffering on packed public transport or in a stuffy lift during a heatwave.
4. Clammy
For those muggy days when the air feels thick, “clammy” is the word of choice. It’s often accompanied by a complaint about how difficult it is to sleep or when talking about the stickiness of your palms on a hot day.
“Last night was so clammy, I couldn’t get to sleep for hours!!”
5. Sizzling
Borrowed from the sound of bacon in a frying pan, “sizzling” is perfect for describing a truly sweltering day.
It’s often paired with references to catching a summer tan: “It’s sizzling out here, get the Factor 50 out!”
6. Muggy
Contrary to popular belief, this word doesn’t just describe a foolish Love Island contestant. A staple in British weather vocabulary, “muggy” describes that heavy, humid air that makes everything feel a little harder than it should.
Usually used with a sigh: “It’s so muggy, I can’t cope!”
The word likely originates from the Old Norse word “mugga,” meaning drizzle or mist. We can draw this connection because of the almost misty feeling in the air when humidity reaches its peak.
7. Taps aff
A beloved phrase in Scotland, “taps aff” (trans. “tops off”) signals the moment temperatures creep high enough for people, often men, to strip down to bare chests, no matter the time or place.
If you hear this phrase in Glasgow or Edinburgh, you’ll know that the summer weather has well and truly arrived.
8. I like it warm, but not this warm!
Although Brits only get the odd few weeks of sunshine a year, we pray for sunshine all year round. Then, when the weather reaches slightly above comfort level, the complaining begins.
One of the favourite whinges of Brits at this time of year is: “I like it warm, but not this warm!” This phrase gained prominence from beloved British comedian Peter Kay’s famous routine, where he referenced the UK’s favourite ways to express dissatisfaction with the weather.
9. Roasting
A phrase that neatly captures the intensity of a UK heatwave, “roasting” is often used to express disbelief at the rare British warmth.
A typical phrase is: “It’s absolutely roasting out there, you could fry an egg on the pavement!”
This word has a long history. Its origins lie in the Middle English “rosten,” meaning to blaze with fire. Since then, it’s had a firm place in the vocabulary of warm Brits across the country.
10. The sun’s cracking the flags!
A regional favourite, especially in the North, “The sun’s cracking the flags!” is a hyperbolic way of saying it’s extremely sunny and hot outside.
The phrase paints a picture of dry stone ‘flags’ (paving slabs) splitting as a result of the blistering heat from the sun.
It’s often used joyfully by a northerner revelling in the rare British sunshine, drink in hand.