Snowy sayings

You won't believe the real roots of 10 winter idioms you use every day!

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.

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."

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Deep roots

11 everyday words with indigenous roots

English is a very welcoming language in the sense that it incorporates terms from many other languages from all over the world. And, as it couldn’t be otherwise, Native American languages have lent many of their words and terms to English speakers. Some traveled through Spanish or French before settling into English, and others arrived directly through early contact and trade, helping shape the way we speak today. Did you know about these 11 terms?

The word "canoe" comes from the Taino term canoa, which was first used by Caribbean islanders long before Europeans arrived. Early explorers adopted it to describe the slim, sturdy boats they saw.

Over time, "canoe" became the standard English word for a small paddled craft. Today it still carries that sense of simplicity and closeness to nature.

The word "barbecue" comes from barbacoa, another Taino term for a wooden frame used for cooking meat over fire. Europeans adopted it and applied it to both the method and the gathering itself.

Today, "barbecue" means everything from a backyard cookout to a regional cooking style. Its origins highlight the deep culinary influence of Native Americans in the nation's current culture.

"Skunk" comes from the Algonquian word squnk, which means "urinating fox" (quite a fitting term, indeed). This was an obvious reference to the animal’s strong defensive spray. Early settlers adopted the term directly.

Since English had no better name for the creature, the Native word stuck. Today, the word skunks is also used as playful slang.

The word "moose" originates from Eastern Abenaki, a part of the Algonquian family, where it meant "he strips off bark." Yes, it described the animal’s habit of tearing bark from trees.

The name entered English quickly because settlers relied on Native knowledge of local fauna. The word remains unchanged because of its accuracy and usefulness.

"Raccoon" comes from the Powhatan word arakun, meaning "he scratches with his hands." It described the animal’s clever, humanlike front paws.

Settlers adopted the term because it captured the creature’s behavior beautifully. Today, the raccoon is used as a household symbol of curiosity, not unlike the animal itself.

The term "chipmunk" most probably comes from the Ojibwe word ajidamoo, which means "one who descends trees headfirst." Early English settlers adapted the sound into today’s form.

Though the spelling changed over time, the lively image of a chipmunk racing down a tree face-first stayed.

The word "caribou" comes from the Mi’kmaq term qalipu, which means "snow shoveler," referring to the animal’s habit of digging through snow for food.

French settlers brought the word into English, keeping its descriptive nature. The name still connects the modern animal to the winter landscapes it belongs to.

"Totem" comes from the Ojibwe word ototeman, which means "kinship group." It described symbols representing clans and shared roots.

English adopted it to describe carved poles and symbolic elements. Though broader in modern usage, it still hints at the original sense of community, identity, and heritage.

"Coyote" comes from the Nahuatl word coyōtl, which was used by Indigenous tribes of central Mexico. Spanish speakers adopted it, and English borrowed later.

The word kept its meaning, and it remains one of the most direct links between the English language and Nahuatl.

The tasty avocado’s name traces to the Nahuatl word ahacatl, which refers to the fruit and to a body part as well. Spanish speakers transformed it into aguacate.

Later on, English speakers adapted it to avocado. While the name sounds contemporary and culinary, it has ancient Native roots.

The last Nahuatl word and also the last word on the list comes from the term xocolātl, which describes a bitter cacao drink that was consumed long before Europeans arrived in America. The name traveled from Spanish to English.

Though the product changed dramatically, the word survived. Today, chocolate is a universal symbol of sweetness, with rich and deeply indigenous roots.