in heat

Idioms  

1. In a state of sexual excitement immediately preceding ovulation. For example, Our cat's in heat so we have to keep her inside. This expression applies to most female mammals and indicates the period when the animal is fertile and most receptive to mating. [Mid-1700s]

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

in heat

A circulation pattern over Europe is creating "the equivalent of a traffic jam in the atmosphere which locks in heat", Samantha Burgess from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, told AFP.

From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026

Marcus Rashford didn't give the impression of being consumed by concerns about his future as he trained in heat that climbed above 30C in Kansas City.

From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026

Aging alone explains virtually all the observed increase in heat deaths.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 2, 2026

To reach this level of sensitivity, the researchers used a calorimeter, a device designed to measure extremely small changes in heat energy.

From Science Daily ● May 21, 2026

For her it’s blue, watercolor, not this red of mine that sucks in heat and blazes with it at the same time.

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood