Learn these English winter phrases
Winter has arrived! There are many phrases and idioms in English that include winter words.
Firstly, here are the winter words. ❄️🏔️🥶
Snow
Snowball
Snowman
Ice
Iceberg
Freeze
Cold
Frost
Some English winter phrases mean something completely different to what you might expect. Learn these winter terms today!
Dead of winter
Meaning: during winter.
“You can’t go to the beach in the dead of winter!”
Cold snap
Meaning: cold weather for a short amount of time.
“We had a cold snap last week.”
On thin ice
Meaning: to be in a risky situation.
“They are skating on thin ice in this job because they are underperforming.”
Pure as snow
Meaning: to be innocent.
“She is as pure as snow.”
Break the ice
Meaning: to begin something or to end awkwardness.
“The team meeting with the new staff members will break the ice.”
Snowball effect
Meaning: things have added up.
“Ever since I put more money into the business, it has snowballed into profit.”
Snowed under
Meaning: to be overwhelmed or to have a lot going on.
“I am snowed under with all the work I have to do before Friday.”
Out cold
Meaning: to be unconscious.
“He won’t wake up. He is out cold.”
Tip of the iceberg
Meaning: a small part of a much bigger problem.
“The supply issues are just the tip of the iceberg of what is wrong with this company!”
Put something on ice
Meaning: to temporarily pause something.
“How about we put this argument on ice for a while?”
Freeze
Meaning: to stop moving or working.
“My computer has frozen!”
Left out in the cold
Meaning: to not be told what is happening.
“He left me out in the cold right before the business meeting!”
Go cold turkey
Meaning: to stop something you are addicted to completely.
“I am going cold turkey with smoking cigarettes so I am throwing them all away.”
Cold shoulder
Meaning: to be unfriendly. “He is giving me the cold shoulder. He has not spoken to me all evening.”
Break out in a cold sweat
Meaning: to be scared.
“I break out in a cold sweat before sitting exams!”
Learn common idioms from native speakers with a General English course at Think English.