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silly season

American

noun

a time of year, usually in midsummer or during a holiday period, characterized by exaggerated news stories, frivolous entertainments, outlandish publicity stunts, etc..

The new movie reminds us that the silly season is here.

silly season British

noun

a period, usually during the hot summer months, when journalists fill space reporting on frivolous events and activities

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of silly season

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

silly season

It isn’t quite silly season yet, but the giggles are starting.

From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2025

Zuriff was responsible for previous iterations of 'The Match' - televised silly season clashes for cash.

From BBC ● Dec. 16, 2024

The silly season in college football, that time when coaches get fired and hired, seems to never stop.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 14, 2023

Players were interested in the silly season only when they got money up front.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 15, 2022

It was in the silly season, and the newspapers fell greedily upon the sensation I made.

From The Making of an American by Jacob A. (Jacob August) Riis

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023