Snowy sayings
You won't believe the real roots of 10 winter idioms you use every day!
Published on March 11, 2026
You might not realize it, but the world around us shapes the way we speak. And the seasons are no exception. Have you ever wondered why we say someone is "snowed under" or that they suddenly get "cold feet"? These expressions aren’t random. Today, we’re exploring the origins and meanings of 10 popular winter idioms.
Cold feet
You’ve thought it through, made your decision, and planned everything. But then nerves take over, and you hesitate. That’s when we say you’re getting "cold feet," and it’s something we’ve all felt at some point.
The expression comes from Germany, though its exact origins are debated. One theory comes from war, describing soldiers ready to fight but unable to charge because their feet were frozen. Another comes from a 19th-century German novel, where a poker player backs out of a game before losing, claiming he couldn’t focus because of his "cold feet."
Walk on thin ice
If you’ve ever been in a risky situation where a small mistake could lead to disaster, you might say you’ve "walked on thin ice," even if you’ve never been near snow.
The phrase originally described the real danger of walking on thin ice over water in frozen regions. By the mid-19th century, it became a metaphor, used to describe any situation where one is in danger.
Give someone the cold shoulder
If your friend ignores your calls or says they won’t be home when you plan to visit, they might be giving you the "cold shoulder." One of the most widely accepted origins of this idiom comes from the Middle Ages. Back then, if an unwelcome guest arrived, hosts couldn’t just shut the door. Instead, they would serve a cold shoulder of beef, mutton, or lamb, instead of a warm, welcoming meal. Unbelievable!
A snowball’s chance in hell
If you applied for a job that’s completely unrelated to your experience and you’re totally unprepared, we might say your odds are "a snowball’s chance in hell." This idiom, used to express extreme improbability or near-impossibility, emerged in the United States around the 1880s. One of its earliest recorded uses appeared in The Detroit Free Press, describing the slim prospects of a political candidate.
Put something on ice
If you’re working on a project but your creativity is running low and progress stops, it might be time to "put it on ice." This popular idiom simply means to pause something or set it aside for a while. Its origins are quite literal: before modern refrigerators, people stored food with blocks of ice to preserve it for later use.
Tip of the iceberg
Imagine your friend is telling you about all the problems they’re facing. You’re shocked by what’s already happened, and then they say, "Wait, that’s just the tip of the iceberg." Oh no! This means things will get even worse.
The idiom is used metaphorically to describe a small, visible part of a larger, hidden problem. But what’s especially interesting is its root: while the exact moment it emerged is unknown, it’s believed to have gained popularity in the first half of the 20th century, shortly after the famous sinking of the Titanic.
When hell freezes over
If "a snowball’s chance in hell" means that something is extremely unlikely, then "when hell freezes over" goes even further, indicating absolute impossibility.
The phrase imagines the logical absurdity of a vast place that is completely on fire, suddenly freezing over. It first emerged in the late 19th century, and according to written records, its popularity grew around the 1920s, becoming a widely recognized idiom in everyday English.
Be left out in the cold
Do you remember Kevin, the main character in Home Alone? Even though he was inside the house, he was essentially "left out in the cold." But how? The expression is used to describe someone who has been forgotten, excluded, or ignored, just like poor Kevin in the movie.
While the exact origins of the phrase are unknown, it likely comes from the literal idea of leaving someone outside, exposed to the cold, without shelter or warmth, highlighting the feeling of being left out.
Snowed under
When work piles up, deadlines loom, and your stress levels rise, we might say you’re "snowed under." This expression, used to describe someone who is overwhelmed, dates back to around 1880. Its origins are literal, referring to the terrible experience of being buried under a heavy snowfall, unable to move, and suffering in the cold.
Winter is coming
When exam season rolls around, and students face a heavy workload, they might say, "Winter is coming." This expression, used to warn of future challenges, originally refers to the real hardships that winter brings to animals and plants.
Although it has been around for a long time, it gained huge popularity in recent years thanks to the hit TV series Game of Thrones, based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire books.
