30 Idioms for Cold

From icy stares to freezing cash, this engaging exploration promises to break the ice on commonly used cold idioms, revealing their unique meanings and adding warmth to your understanding of the English language.

30 idioms for cold

Idioms for Cold

Cold as Ice

Meaning: To be extremely cold or emotionally distant.

In a Sentence: After the breakup, her ex-boyfriend was as cold as ice, refusing to acknowledge her presence.

Cold Feet

Meaning: To feel nervous or hesitant, especially before a significant event.

In a Sentence: Standing at the altar, he suddenly got cold feet and considered running away from the wedding.

Cold Shoulder

Meaning: To deliberately ignore or show indifference to someone.

In a Sentence: Despite reaching out for help, she received a cold shoulder from her colleagues during the project.

Stone-Cold

Meaning: Completely cold or without any warmth, often used to describe emotions or objects.

In a Sentence: The news of his betrayal left her feeling stone-cold, unable to comprehend the depth of the deception.

Cold Comfort

Meaning: A meager or insufficient consolation in a difficult situation.

In a Sentence: Receiving a small apology was cold comfort after the company’s major data breach.

Cold Sweat

Meaning: A sudden feeling of anxiety or fear that causes perspiration.

In a Sentence: As the deadline approached, he broke into a cold sweat, realizing he hadn’t started the project.

Catch One’s Death of Cold

Meaning: To become seriously ill due to exposure to cold weather.

In a Sentence: She forgot her coat on the snowy mountain, fearing she would catch her death of cold.

Blow Hot and Cold

Meaning: To express both approval and disapproval about something, often inconsistently.

In a Sentence: His unpredictable mood swings made it difficult to predict his stance; he could blow hot and cold on the same issue.

In Cold Blood

Meaning: To act with a complete lack of emotion or remorse, often associated with a crime.

In a Sentence: The ruthless killer murdered the victim in cold blood, leaving no trace of remorse.

Out in the Cold

Meaning: To be excluded or left uninformed about something.

In a Sentence: She felt out in the cold when her friends organized a surprise party without inviting her.

Cold Turkey

Meaning: To quit something abruptly and completely, usually referring to a habit like smoking or drinking.

In a Sentence: He decided to quit smoking cold turkey, tossing his cigarettes into the trash.

Cold Fish

Meaning: A person who is unresponsive or lacks warmth in their demeanor.

In a Sentence: Her new boss was a cold fish, rarely acknowledging the efforts of the team.

Cold-Hearted

Meaning: Lacking compassion or empathy, often used to describe a person.

In a Sentence: The cold-hearted decision to lay off employees left the entire staff in shock.

Cold War

Meaning: A state of political tension without direct military conflict between two nations.

In a Sentence: The Cold War era saw intense ideological rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Cold Snap

Meaning: A sudden and brief period of cold weather.

In a Sentence: The unexpected cold snap caught everyone off guard, resulting in a flurry of snow.

Cold Enough to Freeze the Balls off a Brass Monkey

Meaning: Extremely cold weather.

In a Sentence: The wind was so biting that day; it was cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.

Leave Someone Out in the Cold

Meaning: To exclude or neglect someone, leaving them feeling abandoned.

In a Sentence: Her colleagues deliberately left her out in the cold during the team-building activities.

Cold Hands, Warm Heart

Meaning: A person may be reserved or distant outwardly but still have a kind and loving nature.

In a Sentence: Despite his aloof demeanor, his friends believed in the saying – cold hands, warm heart.

Left Out in the Cold

Meaning: To be neglected or ignored, especially in a social or professional setting.

In a Sentence: When the promotion was announced, she realized she had been left out in the cold once again.

Cold Light of Day

Meaning: In the clear and harsh reality of daylight.

In a Sentence: The elaborate plans seemed less appealing in the cold light of day, prompting a reassessment.

Go Down Like a Lead Balloon

Meaning: To be poorly received or fail miserably.

In a Sentence: His attempt at humor during the meeting went down like a lead balloon, resulting in awkward silence.

Cold Cash

Meaning: Payment made in cash, typically for immediate transactions.

In a Sentence: The antique dealer preferred cold cash for the rare collectible items.

Cold Trail

Meaning: To lose or fail to find a trail or clues.

In a Sentence: The detective hit a dead end and found himself on a cold trail, unable to solve the mystery.

Break the Ice

Meaning: To initiate a conversation or interaction in a social setting.

In a Sentence: His witty jokes helped break the ice at the awkward family gathering.

Cold Spell

Meaning: A prolonged period of unusually cold weather.

In a Sentence: The town endured a severe cold spell, with temperatures plummeting to record lows.

Blow Cold

Meaning: To express disapproval or hostility.

In a Sentence: Her father’s stern expression made it clear that he would blow cold if she disobeyed the rules.

Stone-Cold Sober

Meaning: Completely sober, without any influence of alcohol or drugs.

In a Sentence: After a night of celebration, he had to drive home stone-cold sober to ensure everyone’s safety.

Cut Someone Dead

Meaning: To ignore or snub someone intentionally.

In a Sentence: At the party, she decided to cut him dead, still upset about their previous argument.

Summary

IdiomMeaningExample Sentence
Cold as IceExtremely cold or emotionally distantAfter the breakup, her ex-boyfriend was as cold as ice.
Cold FeetNervous or hesitant, especially before a significant eventStanding at the altar, he suddenly got cold feet and considered running away from the wedding.
Cold ShoulderDeliberately ignoring or showing indifference to someoneDespite reaching out for help, she received a cold shoulder from her colleagues during the project.
Stone-ColdCompletely cold or without any warmth, often used to describe emotions or objectsThe news of his betrayal left her feeling stone-cold, unable to comprehend the depth of the deception.
Cold ComfortMeager or insufficient consolation in a difficult situationReceiving a small apology was cold comfort after the company’s major data breach.
Cold SweatSudden feeling of anxiety or fear that causes perspirationAs the deadline approached, he broke into a cold sweat, realizing he hadn’t started the project.
Catch One’s Death of ColdBecome seriously ill due to exposure to cold weatherShe forgot her coat on the snowy mountain, fearing she would catch her death of cold.
Blow Hot and ColdExpressing both approval and disapproval about something, often inconsistentlyHis unpredictable mood swings made it difficult to predict his stance; he could blow hot and cold on the same issue.
In Cold BloodActing with a complete lack of emotion or remorse, often associated with a crimeThe ruthless killer murdered the victim in cold blood, leaving no trace of remorse.
Out in the ColdBeing excluded or left uninformed about somethingShe felt out in the cold when her friends organized a surprise party without inviting her.
Cold TurkeyQuitting something abruptly and completely, usually referring to a habit like smoking or drinkingHe decided to quit smoking cold turkey, tossing his cigarettes into the trash.
Cold FishPerson who is unresponsive or lacks warmth in their demeanorHer new boss was a cold fish, rarely acknowledging the efforts of the team.
Cold-HeartedLacking compassion or empathy, often used to describe a personThe cold-hearted decision to lay off employees left the entire staff in shock.
Cold WarState of political tension without direct military conflict between two nationsThe Cold War era saw intense ideological rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Cold SnapSudden and brief period of cold weatherThe unexpected cold snap caught everyone off guard, resulting in a flurry of snow.
Cold Enough to Freeze the Balls off a Brass MonkeyExtremely cold weatherThe wind was so biting that day; it was cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.
Leave Someone Out in the ColdExclude or neglect someone, leaving them feeling abandonedHer colleagues deliberately left her out in the cold during the team-building activities.
Cold Hands, Warm HeartPerson may be reserved outwardly but still have a kind and loving natureDespite his aloof demeanor, his friends believed in the saying – cold hands, warm heart.
Left Out in the ColdNeglected or ignored, especially in a social or professional settingWhen the promotion was announced, she realized she had been left out in the cold once again.
Cold Light of DayIn the clear and harsh reality of daylightThe elaborate plans seemed less appealing in the cold light of day, prompting a reassessment.
Go Down Like a Lead BalloonPoorly received or fail miserablyHis attempt at humor during the meeting went down like a lead balloon, resulting in awkward silence.
Cold CashPayment made in cash, typically for immediate transactionsThe antique dealer preferred cold cash for the rare collectible items.
Cold TrailLose or fail to find a trail or cluesThe detective hit a dead end and found himself on a cold trail, unable to solve the mystery.
Break the IceInitiate a conversation or interaction in a social settingHis witty jokes helped break the ice at the awkward family gathering.
Cold SpellProlonged period of unusually cold weatherThe town endured a severe cold spell, with temperatures plummeting to record lows.
Blow ColdExpress disapproval or hostilityHer father’s stern expression made it clear that he would blow cold if she disobeyed the rules.
Stone-Cold SoberCompletely sober, without any influence of alcohol or drugsAfter a night of celebration, he had to drive home stone-cold sober to ensure everyone’s safety.
Cut Someone DeadIgnore or snub someone intentionallyAt the party, she decided to cut him dead, still upset about their previous argument.

Conclusion

As we wrap up our exploration into the frigid world of cold idioms, it’s clear that the English language is rich with expressions that capture the various facets of coldness, both literal and metaphorical.

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