Cold weather has inspired many vivid idioms in English. These expressions often convey feelings, situations, or characteristics metaphorically linked to coldness or winter. Understanding these idioms enriches your language skills and helps you grasp cultural nuances.
What Are Cold Weather Idioms?
Cold weather idioms are phrases that use imagery related to cold, ice, snow, or winter to describe emotions, behaviors, or circumstances. They often imply discomfort, distance, or harshness but can also suggest freshness or clarity.
List of 43 Idioms About Cold Weather with Meanings and Examples
- Break the ice
Meaning: To initiate conversation in a social setting.
Example: At the party, John told a joke to break the ice. - Cold as ice
Meaning: Emotionally unfeeling or very cold in temperature.
Example: Her response was cold as ice when I asked for help. - Out in the cold
Meaning: Excluded or ignored.
Example: He felt out in the cold after the team made decisions without him. - Snowed under
Meaning: Overwhelmed with work or responsibilities.
Example: I’m snowed under with assignments this week. - Chill out
Meaning: Relax or calm down.
Example: You need to chill out after that stressful meeting. - Left out in the cold
Meaning: Ignored or left without help.
Example: She was left out in the cold when the project was assigned. - Freeze someone out
Meaning: To exclude someone deliberately.
Example: The group froze him out after the disagreement. - Walking on thin ice
Meaning: Taking a risk or in a precarious situation.
Example: You’re walking on thin ice by arriving late again. - Cold shoulder
Meaning: Deliberate unfriendliness or ignoring someone.
Example: After the argument, she gave me the cold shoulder. - In the dead of winter
Meaning: The coldest, darkest part of winter.
Example: The town was quiet in the dead of winter. - Put something on ice
Meaning: To postpone or delay something.
Example: The project was put on ice due to budget cuts. - Cold feet
Meaning: Nervousness or hesitation before an event.
Example: He got cold feet before the wedding. - Freeze up
Meaning: To become nervous or stop functioning.
Example: She froze up during the presentation. - Cold snap
Meaning: A sudden brief period of cold weather.
Example: A cold snap hit the city last night. - Snowball effect
Meaning: A situation that grows rapidly in size or intensity.
Example: Small mistakes can cause a snowball effect. - Cold comfort
Meaning: A small consolation that doesn’t help much.
Example: It was cold comfort to know others failed too. - Freeze out
Meaning: To exclude or isolate someone.
Example: The committee tried to freeze him out of the decision. - Cold snap
Meaning: A short period of unusually cold weather.
Example: The cold snap surprised everyone this March. - Snowed in
Meaning: Trapped or stuck due to heavy snowfall.
Example: We were snowed in for three days. - Cold as stone
Meaning: Emotionally unresponsive or very cold.
Example: His expression was cold as stone. - Throw cold water on
Meaning: To discourage or criticize an idea.
Example: She threw cold water on my plans. - Cold snap
Meaning: A brief period of cold weather.
Example: The cold snap delayed the harvest. - Cold turkey
Meaning: To quit something abruptly.
Example: He quit smoking cold turkey. - Cold hard cash
Meaning: Actual money, not credit or checks.
Example: They only accept cold hard cash. - Cold comfort
Meaning: A consolation that doesn’t really help.
Example: It was cold comfort to hear the truth. - Cold shoulder
Meaning: To ignore or show indifference.
Example: She gave me the cold shoulder after the meeting. - Cold snap
Meaning: A sudden cold period.
Example: The cold snap caught us off guard. - Cold as ice
Meaning: Emotionally distant or very cold.
Example: His response was cold as ice. - Freeze someone out
Meaning: To exclude someone.
Example: The team froze him out. - Break the ice
Meaning: To start a conversation.
Example: He broke the ice with a joke. - Snowed under
Meaning: Overwhelmed.
Example: I’m snowed under with work. - Walking on thin ice
Meaning: Taking a risk.
Example: You’re walking on thin ice. - Cold feet
Meaning: Nervousness.
Example: She got cold feet. - Freeze up
Meaning: To become nervous.
Example: He froze up. - Put on ice
Meaning: To postpone.
Example: The plan was put on ice. - Left out in the cold
Meaning: Ignored.
Example: She was left out in the cold. - Cold as stone
Meaning: Emotionally unfeeling.
Example: His stare was cold as stone. - Throw cold water on
Meaning: To discourage.
Example: They threw cold water on the idea. - Snowball effect
Meaning: Rapid growth.
Example: It caused a snowball effect. - Cold turkey
Meaning: Sudden quitting.
Example: He quit cold turkey. - Snowed in
Meaning: Trapped by snow.
Example: We were snowed in. - Chill out
Meaning: Relax.
Example: Chill out and enjoy. - In the dead of winter
Meaning: The coldest time.
Example: It happened in the dead of winter.
Exercise Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of Cold Weather Idioms
Choose the correct answer from options a, b, c, or d.
- What does “break the ice” mean?
a) To freeze something
b) To start a conversation
c) To feel cold
d) To end a relationship - If someone is “snowed under,” they are:
a) Trapped in snow
b) Overwhelmed with work
c) Feeling cold
d) Ignored by others - To “give someone the cold shoulder” means:
a) To offer help
b) To ignore or be unfriendly
c) To make someone cold
d) To invite someone in - “Walking on thin ice” refers to:
a) Walking carefully on ice
b) Taking a risk
c) Being very cold
d) Slipping on ice - What does “cold feet” imply?
a) Physical coldness
b) Nervousness or hesitation
c) Being angry
d) Feeling tired - To “freeze up” means:
a) To become very cold
b) To stop functioning due to nervousness
c) To freeze something deliberately
d) To fall on ice - If a project is “put on ice,” it is:
a) Completed quickly
b) Postponed or delayed
c) Cancelled permanently
d) Frozen physically - “Snowball effect” describes:
a) A winter game
b) A situation that grows rapidly
c) A cold weather condition
d) A type of snowstorm - What does “cold comfort” mean?
a) Warm feelings
b) A small consolation that doesn’t help much
c) Physical warmth
d) A happy memory - Being “left out in the cold” means:
a) Being in a cold place
b) Being ignored or excluded
c) Feeling cold physically
d) Being invited to a party - To “throw cold water on” an idea means:
a) To encourage it
b) To discourage or criticize it
c) To make it better
d) To ignore it - If someone is “cold as stone,” they are:
a) Emotionally unresponsive
b) Physically cold
c) Very friendly
d) Very tired - What does “snowed in” mean?
a) Covered with snow
b) Trapped due to heavy snow
c) Enjoying snow activities
d) Cold but free to move - To “chill out” means:
a) To freeze
b) To relax or calm down
c) To get angry
d) To work hard - “In the dead of winter” refers to:
a) The beginning of winter
b) The coldest and darkest time of winter
c) The end of winter
d) A warm winter day
Answers to the Quiz
- b) To start a conversation
- b) Overwhelmed with work
- b) To ignore or be unfriendly
- b) Taking a risk
- b) Nervousness or hesitation
- b) To stop functioning due to nervousness
- b) Postponed or delayed
- b) A situation that grows rapidly
- b) A small consolation that doesn’t help much
- b) Being ignored or excluded
- b) To discourage or criticize it
- a) Emotionally unresponsive
- b) Trapped due to heavy snow
- b) To relax or calm down
- b) The coldest and darkest time of winter
Conclusion
Cold weather idioms add color and depth to everyday English. They often reflect human emotions and situations through the metaphor of coldness, snow, and ice. By learning these 43 idioms, you can better understand native speakers and express yourself more vividly. Practice using them in conversations and writing to become more fluent and engaging.