in heat

in heat

In a state of sexual excitement and able to breed, as of a female animal. Do you hear the stray cat howling and screeching at night? She must be in heat.
See also: heat
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*in heat

in a period of sexual excitement; in estrus. (Estrus is the period of time in which females are most willing to breed. This expression is usually used for animals. It has been used for humans in a joking sense. *Typically: be ~; get [into] ~; go [into] ~.) Our dog is in heat. She goes into heat every year at this time.
See also: heat
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

in heat

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]
See also: heat
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • be in heat
  • come in heat
  • come in(to) heat
  • come in(to) season
  • come into season
  • get in(to) heat
  • go in(to) heat
  • howling
  • howling success
  • be a howling success
References in periodicals archive
That effectively ended the contest, although King rode with determination to split Grajczonek and Rohan Tungate in heat 14, and the most telling statistic of the match after Grajczonek had held Harris at bay for another 5-1 in the finale, was that Bees had supplied last places in 13 of the 15 races - far too many to contemplate winning a meeting.
| Danny King slugs it out with Jason Doyle in heat seven.
Bees mistakes hand points to the Robins
Howe, like Johnston, finished better than he had started by splitting Harris and Kylmakorpi in heat 14, and Richardson outgated Nicholls in 15 as Johnston kept Kylmakorpi at the back, but it was token defiance from a Monmore side who had long since surrendered the match and the bonus point.
Bees cruise to a perfect ten; SPEEDWAY
Another 5-1 in heat 12 edged Belle Vue ahead but Sullivan and Billy Hamill were too hot for Hurry and Brent Werner in heat 13 and the scores were back level.
Sullivan and skipper Hamill then teamed up again in heat 15 to win it for the Bees.
SPEEDWAY: Richardson races to tackle Witches; Coventry 47 Belle Vue 43
Ebdon, famous for some unsavoury run-ins with ex-Bees skipper Hans Nielsen, also allowed Steve Johnston to get away with almost spearing Brian Andersen in heat three, and it was to the Bees skipper's credit that he got on with the job of repassing Johnston for third place.
Hancock maximum as Bees triumph at Oxford; SPEEDWAY: SPOTLIGHT ON THE ELITE LEAGUE: Oxford ......... 39 Coventry ........ 51