spring fever

American  

noun

1. a listless, lazy, or restless feeling commonly associated with the beginning of spring.

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spring fever British  

noun

1. the feeling of restlessness experienced by many people at the onset of spring

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Etymology

Origin of spring fever

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60

Example Sentences

“Imagine someone my age, with all my years of experience, letting himself get into that kind of water! Spring fever, I guess. I’m always a little batty after lying in the cold mud all winter. The sun made me think I could navigate anything. The river can’t handle all those freshets pouring in. It goes wild. Where is this, anyway? Is there a town here? A post office? Any boats?”

From Literature

Maybe I have Spring Fever or maybe I am finding inspiration from the extra loud, ever emphatic, impossible to ignore birdsongs I hear from dawn to dusk, but whatever it is, I have plenty in the tank at the end of the day.

From Salon

“After a long Berlin winter, we are as pale as the spears themselves. But our cheeks are soon pink with spring fever.”

From New York Times

Here are three to help stoke your spring fever.

From Washington Post

Many growers catch spring fever and plant an unwieldy amount of salad greens early in the season.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• apathetic
• halfhearted
• laid-back
• lazy
• lethargic
• listless
• passive