Share These "Cold" Idioms with Students This Winter
This time of year, temperatures begin to drop and people start bundling up to keep warm. Why not take advantage of the season and teach your students some idioms related to the idea coldness? As we'll see, they cover a wide range of feelings and situations.
Idioms using “cold”
Cold-hearted
Simple explanation: lacking emotions like love, empathy and kindness
- The movie's villain was a cold-hearted gangster who only cared about money and power.
This is similar to the expression “have ice in one’s veins.”
- My former boss had ice in his veins. I never saw him smile once.
Get cold feet
Simple explanation: to become nervous
This is often used before major events to say that someone is scared or worried.
- I always get cold feet before I give presentations.
- Don't get cold feet now; it's time to go!
Cold call
Simple explanation: to call someone you don't know and have never spoken to before
"Cold-calling" is often done by business professionals looking for new customers.
- I have to cold-call people all day at my telemarketing job.
- Cold-calling only generates a small percentage of our business.
(Quit something) cold turkey
Simple explanation: to stop a harmful activity or habit immediately
- Zach was able to quit smoking cold turkey. I don’t know how he did it.
- After realizing she was addicted, May quit social media cold turkey and deleted all of her apps.
Cold sweat
Simple explanation: sweating because of fear, nervousness or sickness
- I woke up from a nightmare in a cold sweat.
- Thinking about the big meeting next week makes me break into a cold sweat.
Cold comfort
Simple explanation: something positive that does not improve a situation or make someone feel better
- He apologized for starting the rumor, but it was cold comfort after all of the damage it caused.
- The government's commitment to fighting climate change was cold comfort to families whose homes were already destroyed by flooding.
Leave someone out in the cold
Simple explanation: to not include someone in an activity or gathering
- After losing his leadership position, he was left out in the cold when the group made major decisions.
- Many former-workers were left out in the cold because of the layoffs.
Cold war
Simple explanation: a war without fighting / when two or more sides prepare for a fight without attacking directly
- The two companies have been in a cold war, with each hiring the best engineers before their rival can.
When spelled with capital letters, the Cold War usually refers to the political competition between the United States and the Soviet Union that took place from 1945 to 1991.
Give someone the cold shoulder
Simple explanation: ignoring someone or treating them in an unfriendly way
- Jesse’s been giving me the cold shoulder all week, but I don't know why.
- Many of his colleagues gave him the cold shoulder when he joined the company.
Discussion questions
- Does it snow where you live?
- What’s your favorite season?
- What weather-related expressions do you have in your native language?
- Were you ever given the cold shoulder by someone?
- Have you ever quit something cold turkey?
- When was the last time you got cold feet?
Wrap-up
Although the colder months can be beautiful due to the snow, the idea of coldness usually makes people think of unpleasant experiences and feelings. However, the idioms presented here are still very useful to know, so share them with your students when you’re short of topics or need to fill the final minutes of a wintertime lesson.
