Winter has arrived! There are English winter phrases and idioms in English that include 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 and English winter phrases from native speakers with a General English course at Think English.
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