Word Bank
IDIOMS LIST
We all know winter is coming, but there is no need to put your language learning on Ice. Here are some wonderful winter idioms that won’t leave you feeling under the weather and they are just the tip of the iceberg.
Put something on ice
We use this idiom when we want to delay making a decision or doing something.
“Let’s put our holiday on ice, until we can come to an agreed destination.”
Blanket of snow
This is used to describe how it looks when a snow has just falling and is covering the city. It looks not to dissimilar to a warm duvet that covers our beds.
Snowball effect
When something has a snowball effect, like a snowball, gets bigger and bigger the more it rolls. It means, something could start out small, and end really big.
Dead of winter
This is when winter is at its pinnacle stage. When “Hell has frozen over”, and nothing lives, breaths, grows and it’s so cold.
“It’s the dead of winter outside, so be careful.”
Winter is coming
Fan of Game of Thrones will know this phase. Now used in everyday English to indicate winter is on its way, so we better prepare.
Break the ice
Usually when we meet strangers, there is an atmosphere you can almost cut with a knife. Well, breaking the ice (Ice Breaker) is something you do or say to break the barrier and help everyone relax.
Not a snowball’s chance in Hell
We imagine Hell as an extremely hot place and so no snowballs there. This very negative idiom expresses our strong belief that something will never happening.
“There is not a snowball’s chance in hell of Steve paying back the money he owes.”
When all Hell freezes over
This idiom also refers to Hell but this time in the likelihood of Hell turning to ice. And we all know that is never going happen.
“I’ll give you my phone number when all Hell freezes over” she said before turning and walking away.
Walking on thin ice
Of course it is silly, dangerous and reckless to walk on thin ice. It could break at any moment. This idiom is used for situations much like that.
“He had been given a second chance, although he knew he was walking on thin ice”
Cold hands, warm heart
Cold hands refers to people that are quite frosty or cold on the outside. They are usually warm, gentle and caring on the inside. You just need to break the ice and get to know them better. And yes, it works both ways, so be careful of somebody with warm hands.
In cold blood
Quite simply, to do something in cold blood, is to act without care of emotion.
“He brutally murdered the two men in cold blood, it was an impulsive heinous act.”
The tip of the iceberg
Because we only see 10% of an iceberg, this idiom refers to something that is just a small piece of something much bigger.
“They just arrested a politician for corruption, but it’s believed to be just the tip of the iceberg.”
To leave someone out in the cold
This idiom refers to when you organise an event or activity and somebody is not included. It can be said that person was left out in the cold.
“James was left out in the cold when his mates went clubbing on Saturday night and didn’t invite him to join.”
If you can think of any other frosty idioms, send me a message and let me know.
If yo’re warming toward English idioms, check the tags below for other pages.
