Direct link to YouTube video: https://youtu.be/gG8hIEg5cwQ
Explanations + Extra Practice Activities
❄️ Winter Idioms & Cold Weather Expressions❄️
🔹 Break the ice❄️
Meaning:
To say or do something to make people feel relaxed and comfortable in a new, quiet, or awkward situation.
This idiom comes from the idea of breaking real ice so people can move more easily.
Examples:
- He told a joke to break the ice at the meeting.
- Games help students break the ice on the first day of class.
Tip:
Used at the beginning of conversations or meetings.
🔹 Give someone the cold shoulder❄️
Meaning:
To ignore someone or treat them in an unfriendly way on purpose.
Examples:
- After the argument, she gave him the cold shoulder.
- He felt uncomfortable because everyone gave him the cold shoulder.
Tip:
Used when someone is angry, hurt, or unhappy with another person.
🔹 Be on thin ice❄️
Meaning:
To be in a risky or dangerous situation where one more mistake can cause serious trouble.
This idiom comes from the idea of walking or skating on thin ice, which can break easily.
Common variations:
- be on thin ice
- walk on thin ice / walking on thin ice
- skate on thin ice / skating on thin ice
Examples:
- You’re on thin ice if you keep coming to work late.
- He’s walking on thin ice after breaking company rules.
- She’s skating on thin ice by arguing with her boss again.
Tip:
This idiom is about risk, not real ice.
🔹 Leave someone out in the cold❄️
Meaning:
To exclude someone or ignore them completely.
Examples:
- Everyone was invited except her. She was left out in the cold.
- New employees should not be left out in the cold.
Tip:
Often used when talking about groups, work, or social situations.
🔹 Not have a snowball’s chance in hell❄️
Meaning:
To have almost no chance of success.
Examples:
- He doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning without studying.
- We had no snowball’s chance in hell of arriving on time.
Tip:
This is informal and strong. Best for casual conversation.
🔹 Put something on ice❄️
Meaning:
To delay or stop something for now, with the plan to continue it later.
Examples:
- They put the project on ice until next year.
- Let’s put this idea on ice and discuss it later.
Tip:
Common in business, planning, and daily life.
🔹 Get cold feet❄️
Meaning:
To suddenly feel nervous and decide not to do something you planned to do.
Examples:
- She got cold feet and canceled the trip.
- He got cold feet just before the wedding.
Tip:
Used for decisions, commitments, and big plans.
🔹 When hell freezes over❄️
Meaning:
Something that will never happen or is extremely unlikely.
Examples:
- He’ll apologize when hell freezes over.
- I’ll wake up at 5 a.m. every day when hell freezes over.
Tip:
Very strong and humorous. Informal English only.
Extra Practice Activities
❄️ Winter Idioms Quiz
Choose the correct answer.
1️⃣ Because of budget problems regarding the new project, they decided to ______.
a) break the ice
b) give it the cold shoulder
c) put it on ice
Answer: c) put it on ice
2️⃣ He agreed to move abroad, but at the last minute he ______.
a) left someone out in the cold
b) got cold feet
c) was on thin ice
Answer: b) got cold feet
3️⃣ After their argument, she ignored him and ______.
a) broke the ice
b) gave him the cold shoulder
c) put it on ice
Answer: b) gave him the cold shoulder
4️⃣ He didn’t study at all. He ______ of passing the exam.
a) doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell
b) got cold feet
c) broke the ice
Answer: a) doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell
5️⃣ Everyone was invited to the meeting except her. She was ______.
a) getting cold feet
b) on thin ice
c) left out in the cold
Answer: c) left out in the cold
6️⃣ The room was quiet and uncomfortable, so he told a joke to ______.
a) break the ice
b) get cold feet
c) give someone the cold shoulder
Answer: a) break the ice
7️⃣ He will admit he was wrong ______.
a) after breaking the ice
b) when hell freezes over
c) when he gets cold feet
Answer: b) when hell freezes over
8️⃣ You have already been warned. You are ______ with your boss now.
a) breaking the ice
b) putting it on ice
c) on thin ice
Answer: c) on thin ice
❄️ Winter Idioms Quiz – Match the Meaning
Write the correct idiom for each situation.
(Use each idiom once.)
Idioms:
• Break the ice
• Give someone the cold shoulder
• Be on thin ice
• Leave someone out in the cold
• Not have a snowball’s chance in hell
• Put something on ice
• Get cold feet
• When hell freezes over
1️⃣ Someone feels nervous and decides not to do something at the last moment.
Answer: Get cold feet
2️⃣ A project or plan is delayed or stopped for now.
Answer: Put something on ice
3️⃣ A person is ignored and treated in an unfriendly way.
Answer: Give someone the cold shoulder
4️⃣ Someone is in a dangerous situation and could get in trouble easily.
Answer: Be on thin ice
5️⃣ A person is excluded and not invited or included.
Answer: Leave someone out in the cold
6️⃣ Something is completely impossible.
Answer: Not have a snowball’s chance in hell
7️⃣ A very unlikely thing will happen only “never.”
Answer: When hell freezes over
8️⃣ Someone does something to make people feel more relaxed or comfortable.
Answer: Break the ice
❄️ Winter Idioms – Right or Wrong Quiz
Decide if the idiom is used correctly. Write Right or Wrong.
1️⃣ He told a joke to break the ice at the start of the meeting.
Answer: Right
2️⃣ She failed the exam, so she gave the teacher the cold shoulder.
Answer: Wrong
(Failing an exam doesn’t cause someone to ignore another person.)
3️⃣ He has already been warned by his boss, so he’s on thin ice now.
Answer: Right
4️⃣ They put the project on ice because everyone felt nervous.
Answer: Wrong
(Feeling nervous = get cold feet.)
5️⃣ She wasn’t invited to the wedding, so she was left out in the cold.
Answer: Right
6️⃣ He practiced every day, so he didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning.
Answer: Wrong
(This idiom means “no chance at all.”)
7️⃣ He agreed to the plan immediately, so he got cold feet.
Answer: Wrong
(Cold feet means changing your mind at the last minute.)
8️⃣ He’ll apologize for his mistake when hell freezes over.
Answer: Right