33 Metaphors for Cold

Cold weather can stir up all kinds of feelings, and often we turn to metaphors to express how the chill makes us feel. Metaphors can make the experience of cold more vivid and relatable, from describing a winter storm to the frosty feeling in the air. Here are 33 creative metaphors for cold, each with a meaning, an example sentence, and alternative ways to express the same idea.

1. The Chill in the Air

Meaning: The sharp, biting cold that can be felt even before a drop in temperature.
In a Sentence: “There’s a chill in the air tonight, better grab your coat!”
Other Ways to Say: A nip in the air, a cold draft, the frost in the air

2. A Frosty Reception

Meaning: An unwelcoming or distant attitude, often associated with emotional coldness.
In a Sentence: “She gave me a frosty reception when I arrived at the party.”
Other Ways to Say: A chilly welcome, an icy response, a cool greeting

3. Ice in Your Veins

Meaning: A feeling of extreme coldness, often used to describe someone who is emotionally distant or unfeeling.
In a Sentence: “When he heard the news, he had ice in his veins and didn’t flinch.”
Other Ways to Say: Cold-hearted, a stone-cold demeanor, emotionally frozen

4. A Winter’s Breath

Meaning: The crisp, biting air of winter, evoking a sense of harsh cold.
In a Sentence: “I could feel a winter’s breath as soon as I stepped outside.”
Other Ways to Say: The breath of winter, a frosty exhale, a wintery gust

5. Like a Glacier

Meaning: Extremely slow or cold, often used to describe something or someone that is emotionally distant or unyielding.
In a Sentence: “Her response was like a glacier, cold and impassive.”
Other Ways to Say: Ice-cold, frozen as a glacier, stone-cold

6. A Snowy Blanket

Meaning: The serene and quiet covering of snow, often used to evoke peaceful coldness.
In a Sentence: “The ground was covered in a snowy blanket, making everything look so peaceful.”
Other Ways to Say: A frosty cover, a white coat, a blanket of frost

7. A Frozen Heart

Meaning: Someone who is emotionally unfeeling or distant, as if their heart were encased in ice.
In a Sentence: “After years of betrayal, he seemed to have a frozen heart.”
Other Ways to Say: An ice-cold heart, a heart of stone, emotionally numb

8. Biting Cold

Meaning: A sharp, penetrating cold that feels as if it is biting into your skin.
In a Sentence: “The biting cold wind made it hard to stay outside for too long.”
Other Ways to Say: Nipping cold, piercing cold, sharp chill

9. The Frost of Time

Meaning: The metaphorical coldness that comes with the passage of time, often related to forgotten memories or relationships.
In a Sentence: “The frost of time had dulled their once warm friendship.”
Other Ways to Say: The chill of the past, time’s cold touch, the coldness of years

10. Cold as Marble

Meaning: Something or someone that is extremely cold and unyielding, often used to describe a person’s demeanor.
In a Sentence: “Her stare was cold as marble, and I knew she wasn’t going to listen to a word I said.”
Other Ways to Say: Cold as ice, as chilly as stone, frigid as a tomb

11. Ice in the Air

Meaning: A sense of tension or discomfort in the atmosphere, much like a cold, stifling environment.
In a Sentence: “There was ice in the air during their conversation, and neither of them smiled.”
Other Ways to Say: A cold silence, a frosty mood, tense stillness

12. The Ice Age

Meaning: A period or situation characterized by extreme cold or emotional distance.
In a Sentence: “Their relationship entered the ice age after the argument and never fully thawed.”
Other Ways to Say: The frozen era, the cold spell, the frosty phase

13. A Winter’s Night

Meaning: A particularly cold and bleak time, often evoking a sense of isolation or hardship.
In a Sentence: “Walking alone through the empty streets felt like a winter’s night.”
Other Ways to Say: A bitter night, a chilly evening, a frosty twilight

14. A Polar Vortex

Meaning: A term used to describe extremely cold, arctic-like conditions, often bringing freezing temperatures.
In a Sentence: “The city was hit by a polar vortex, and everyone stayed inside.”
Other Ways to Say: Arctic blast, icy winds, freezing front

15. Cold to the Bone

Meaning: A feeling of being deeply cold, often used to express a penetrating chill.
In a Sentence: “The wind was so strong, it felt like it was cold to the bone.”
Other Ways to Say: Chilled to the core, frozen to the marrow, deeply chilled

16. Ice on the Ground

Meaning: A dangerous or slick situation, often caused by freezing weather conditions.
In a Sentence: “Be careful out there, there’s ice on the ground from last night’s freeze.”
Other Ways to Say: Slippery surfaces, frozen pavement, icy paths

17. Cold as Death

Meaning: A comparison used to describe something extremely cold, often with an ominous or serious tone.
In a Sentence: “The water in the lake was cold as death, freezing my feet instantly.”
Other Ways to Say: Cold as a tomb, deathly cold, ice-cold as a grave

18. A Winter’s Chill

Meaning: The coldness that comes with winter, often evoking a sense of calm or quiet, but also discomfort.
In a Sentence: “The winter’s chill settled in, and everyone bundled up.”
Other Ways to Say: The winter’s bite, the frost of winter, the chill of the season

19. A Frozen Wasteland

Meaning: A desolate and cold place, often used to describe barren, frozen environments.
In a Sentence: “The landscape stretched out like a frozen wasteland, with no sign of life.”
Other Ways to Say: A frozen desert, an icy expanse, a barren tundra

20. Ice Water in Your Veins

Meaning: A metaphor for calmness under pressure, or the lack of emotional response.
In a Sentence: “He handled the crisis like a pro, with ice water in his veins.”
Other Ways to Say: Cool-headed, calm under pressure, unflappable

21. A Blizzard of Emotions

Meaning: A flurry of conflicting feelings, often accompanied by cold, unfeeling behavior.
In a Sentence: “Their argument turned into a blizzard of emotions, leaving both of them cold and distant.”
Other Ways to Say: A storm of feelings, a flurry of tension, a whirlwind of emotion

22. A Cold Snap

Meaning: A sudden brief period of extreme cold.
In a Sentence: “We were enjoying a warm autumn until a cold snap hit, and we had to bring out our coats.”
Other Ways to Say: A sudden chill, a brief frost, a quick freeze

23. Ice on the Horizon

Meaning: The looming arrival of something cold, often used to represent approaching challenges or difficulties.
In a Sentence: “With the storm clouds forming, I could feel ice on the horizon.”
Other Ways to Say: A chilling forecast, a coming freeze, cold on the way

24. A Frosted Window

Meaning: A view or perspective that’s obscured by cold, often representing emotional distance or uncertainty.
In a Sentence: “I could barely see through the frosted window, everything was hazy and unclear.”
Other Ways to Say: A cloudy view, obscured vision, a blurred perspective

25. Cold as Steel

Meaning: A metaphor for something or someone unyielding and emotionally detached.
In a Sentence: “His resolve was as cold as steel; nothing could change his mind.”
Other Ways to Say: Hard as stone, emotionally rigid, unbending

26. A Permafrost Heart

Meaning: A heart that is completely unfeeling or frozen, unable to love or care.
In a Sentence: “She seemed to have a permafrost heart after everything that happened.”
Other Ways to Say: Frozen heart, heart of ice, cold to love

27. A Frozen Smile

Meaning: A smile that seems forced or lacks warmth.
In a Sentence: “He gave me a frozen smile, but I could tell he wasn’t really happy to see me.”
Other Ways to Say: A tight smile, a stiff grin, a cold expression

28. Snow in Your Soul

Meaning: A sense of emotional coldness or isolation.
In a Sentence: “After everything she went through, it felt like there was snow in her soul.”
Other Ways to Say: Emotional frost, frozen spirit, a cold heart

29. A Cold Breath of Air

Meaning: A sudden reminder of the cold, often used metaphorically for unexpected or uncomfortable moments.
In a Sentence: “The news hit me like a cold breath of air.”
Other Ways to Say: A chilling revelation, a frosty realization, a sudden chill

30. A Shiver in the Spine

Meaning: A cold feeling that is so intense it physically affects you.
In a Sentence: “The eerie silence sent a shiver down my spine.”
Other Ways to Say: A chill down your back, a cold tingle, a spine-tingling cold

31. The Cold Shoulder

Meaning: An intentional display of indifference or disdain.
In a Sentence: “He gave me the cold shoulder after our disagreement.”
Other Ways to Say: Ignoring someone, being distant, a frosty reception

32. The Ice Queen

Meaning: A woman who is emotionally cold, distant, or unapproachable.
In a Sentence: “She was the ice queen at the office, never showing any warmth or kindness.”
Other Ways to Say: Emotionally cold, unapproachable, standoffish

33. A Cold Day in Hell

Meaning: An event that is extremely unlikely or impossible to happen.
In a Sentence: “He promised he’d apologize, but I’m waiting for a cold day in hell.”
Other Ways to Say: Never going to happen, impossible, not in a million years

Cold Metaphors Quiz

What does the metaphor “A Frosty Reception” refer to?
a) A cold temperature at a party
b) An unwelcoming or distant attitude
c) An actual frost on the ground
d) A warm greetingAnswer: b) An unwelcoming or distant attitude
Which metaphor describes someone who is emotionally unfeeling or distant?
a) Ice in the Air
b) Ice Water in Your Veins
c) A Winter’s Breath
d) A Frozen WastelandAnswer: b) Ice Water in Your Veins
What does the metaphor “Like a Glacier” imply?
a) Something that is moving quickly
b) Something that is cold and unyielding
c) A fleeting moment
d) A warm, comforting feelingAnswer: b) Something that is cold and unyielding
Which of the following is another way to express “A Snowy Blanket”?
a) A winter storm
b) A blanket of frost
c) A frozen tundra
d) A chilly breezeAnswer: b) A blanket of frost
The metaphor “Ice on the Ground” refers to what kind of situation?
a) A comfortable setting
b) A dangerous, slippery environment
c) A frozen moment in time
d) A frozen feeling in the heartAnswer: b) A dangerous, slippery environment
What does “A Winter’s Chill” symbolize?
a) The coldness of winter itself
b) A warm summer breeze
c) An intense moment of coldness
d) A calming, peaceful experienceAnswer: a) The coldness of winter itself
“A Frozen Heart” is often used to describe which of the following?
a) A deeply loving person
b) Someone who is emotionally distant or unfeeling
c) A very kind person
d) Someone who is warm and caringAnswer: b) Someone who is emotionally distant or unfeeling
Which metaphor would best describe a sudden, sharp drop in temperature?
a) A Cold Snap
b) A Polar Vortex
c) A Snowy Blanket
d) A Shiver in the SpineAnswer: a) A Cold Snap
The metaphor “Cold as Steel” is most likely used to describe someone who is:
a) Warm and caring
b) Emotionally unyielding
c) Quick to act in a crisis
d) Soft-hearted and empatheticAnswer: b) Emotionally unyielding
When someone is described as having “Ice in their Veins,” they are likely:
a) Emotionally calm under pressure
b) Feeling extremely cold
c) Acting recklessly
d) Shivering in fearAnswer: a) Emotionally calm under pressure
Which of these metaphors refers to a brief period of extremely cold weather?
a) A Polar Vortex
b) A Frost of Time
c) A Cold Snap
d) A Winter’s BreathAnswer: c) A Cold Snap
What does “Ice on the Horizon” typically imply?
a) Something warm and inviting is coming
b) An upcoming cold front or situation
c) A calm, peaceful environment
d) The end of a long winterAnswer: b) An upcoming cold front or situation
What does “A Winter’s Night” metaphorically describe?
a) A cold, bleak, and sometimes isolating period
b) A warm, cozy evening indoors
c) The joy of snowstorms
d) A day of calm and serenityAnswer: a) A cold, bleak, and sometimes isolating period
“A Frozen Smile” would most likely describe:
a) A heartfelt expression
b) A forced or insincere smile
c) A moment of genuine joy
d) A joyful and spontaneous reactionAnswer: b) A forced or insincere smile
Which metaphor would best describe an emotionally distant or unapproachable person?
a) A Permafrost Heart
b) A Frozen Wasteland
c) A Snowy Blanket
d) A Blizzard of EmotionsAnswer: a) A Permafrost Heart
What does “The Ice Queen” metaphor refer to?
a) A warm-hearted ruler
b) A woman who is cold and emotionally distant
c) A ruler during the winter season
d) A friendly, approachable leaderAnswer: b) A woman who is cold and emotionally distant
Which metaphor implies a feeling of being deeply affected by cold?
a) Cold to the Bone
b) Ice Water in Your Veins
c) Snow in Your Soul
d) A Frosty ReceptionAnswer: a) Cold to the Bone
“A Cold Day in Hell” is used to describe:
a) Something that is highly likely to happen
b) An event that is extremely unlikely or impossible
c) A very chilly winter day
d) A sudden snowstormAnswer: b) An event that is extremely unlikely or impossible
What does the metaphor “The Frost of Time” refer to?
a) The cold that comes from a specific winter storm
b) The emotional coldness that comes with the passage of time
c) A physical frost on the ground
d) A new beginning after a period of coldAnswer: b) The emotional coldness that comes with the passage of time
“A Shiver in the Spine” most often refers to:
a) A moment of emotional coldness
b) A cold physical sensation that makes you shudder
c) A feeling of calmness
d) An emotional reaction of joyAnswer: b) A cold physical sensation that makes you shudder

Conclusion

Metaphors for cold evoke a wide range of emotions and scenarios, from physical sensations to emotional states. Whether describing a frosty attitude, a sharp chill, or the harshness of winter, these metaphors offer a vivid and relatable way to express the experience of cold in both literal and figurative terms.