COLD idioms - (idioms with adjectives)

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What does cold mean?

The word ‘cold‘ as an adjective can mean a relatively low temperature or unfriendly. For example:

Let’s take a look at some common idioms containing the word ‘cold’.

as cold as ice
meaning – unfriendly or very cold
example – Your hands are as cold as ice, put your gloves on.
blood runs cold
meaning – be terrified/frightened
example – The screams of the trapped workers made everyone’s blood run cold.
blow hot and cold
meaning – keep changing your attitudes towards something
example – Ryan keeps blowing hot and cold. One minute he loves me, the next he ignores me.
catch one’s death (of cold)
meaning – become ill with a serious cold
example – Tell Sammy to dry her hair before she goes out, she’ll catch her death of cold.
cold hard cash
meaning – physical cash in your hand
example – Someone offered me cold hard cash for my old table and chairs.
cold sweat
meaning – perspiration caused by anxiety/fear/shock/pain etc.
example – I woke up in a cold sweat, I had a nightmare about my exams.
get cold feet
meaning – get nervous and change one’s mind about doing something
example – I didn’t compete in the singing competition, I saw the audience and got cold feet.
give someone the cold shoulder
meaning – ignore someone/be unfriendly on purpose
example – The girlfriend is giving me the cold shoulder. I must have done something wrong.

give someone the cold shoulder
meaning – ignore someone/be unfriendly on purpose
example – The girlfriend is giving me the cold shoulder. I must have done something wrong.
go cold turkey
meaning – completely stop taking a substance
example – I’ve quit smoking. It was easy, I just went cold turkey.
in cold blood
meaning – deliberately, ruthlessly, without emotion
example – Joey was killed in cold blood whilst walking home from a party.
in the cold light of day
meaning – think about emotional matters when you are calmer
example – In the cold light of day, I think I overreacted. I must call him and apologise.
leave out in the cold
meaning – exclude, not informed
example – Don’t leave me out in the cold, tell me what’s going on!
out cold
meaning – unconscious/in a deep sleep
example – The kids are out cold, they’ve been running around in the sun all day.
stone cold
meaning – very cold
example – I woke up this morning and the rabbit was stone cold in his hutch.
stone cold sober
meaning – not intoxicated, completely sober
example – I couldn’t get drunk last night, I was stone cold sober all night.
throw cold water on
meaning – discourage, reduce enthusiasm
example – I hate my job; my boss is always throwing cold water on my ideas.