10 English Idioms Inspired by Winter

Learn how to use 10 Winter Idioms in everyday Conversation.

As the temperatures drop, it’s the perfect time to get cosy at home and learn some English idioms and phrases related to winter and cold weather. One of the best ways to learn new vocabulary is to categorise them, so we’ve compiled a list of our top 10 favourite English idioms and phrases inspired by cold weather. You may notice that some of these idioms are not directly related to the weather in meaning.

Why is it important to learn English idioms?

Idioms are a crucial part of the English language and are used in everyday conversations. They are phrases that have a figurative meaning different from the literal meaning of the words used. Using idioms adds depth and colour to language, making it more interesting and engaging. Idioms are also important in helping non-native speakers understand the nuances of the language. By learning idioms, learners can better understand cultural references and the meanings behind certain expressions. Additionally, idioms are often used in informal settings, so understanding them can help learners communicate more effectively in everyday situations. Overall, idioms are an essential part of the English language, and learning them can greatly enhance one’s grasp of the language and ability to communicate effectively.

Here are the 10 most used winter idioms:

1. Bundle up

Before you can face the cold outside, you have to bundle up, which means to get dressed warmly and wrap yourself up.

2. To leave (someone) out in the cold

Leaving someone out in the cold is a mean thing to do! If you don’t include people in your group, you’re leaving them out in the cold. This refers to when you exclude someone from activities and conversations.

3. Cold hands, warm heart

You might be cold on the outside, but warm on the inside. . This idiom shows that even when people do not appear to show emotion, they might be very sensitive on the inside. Use it to express that someone who might seem distant on the outside is actually a caring and sensitive person in reality.

4. Snug as bug in a rug

When it’s cold outside, it’s best to stay wrapped up in and cosy a blanket, next to a fire with a warm beverage in hand, snug as a bug in a rug! This refers to when someone is covered up and tucked in tight in blankets, or in bed.

5. To give someone the cold shoulder

When someone makes you angry or upset, you need space and sometimes give them the silent treatment. This is expressed as saying you’re giving someone the cold shoulder. You might do this after a little fight – you ignore them to punish them, or until you calm down and can forgive them.

6. Blanket of snow

Just as a blanket is a thick covering, a blanket of snow refers to when it’s been snowing heavily and the ground is covered up with a thick layer of snow. It’s used to describe the scene after a heavy snowfall, like when you wake up in the morning after a night of snowing.

7. Break the ice

When you meet a new person, you have to break the ice. Before you manage to break the ice, it’s usually a bit quiet and awkward. It’s also used to describe situations, for example at a party, when no one is dancing and everyone looks bored – the first person to start dancing breaks the ice! The phrase is also used for activities in the beginning of meetings or workshops which are warmers – icebreakers (find someone who, two truths 1 lie, etc).

8. Walking on thin ice

As you can imagine, walking on thin ice is quite a risky and dangerous situation. Likewise, this idiom is used to convey that a situation someone is in quite risky. For example, if your boss is angry at you for coming into work late every day, then you ask to leave early, you’re walking on thin ice.

9. To run hot and cold

Cold and hot are opposites, and when you run hot and cold, you keep on having opposite thoughts! This is used to describe people who cannot make up their mind and are very indecisive about a situation. It’s also used to describe people who constantly change their feelings about something or someone. Like the famous Katy Perry song!

10. Under the weather

When you’re feeling under the weather, you’re feeling unwell or in low spirts. It’s used to express that someone is feeling sick or ill, usually to describe cold and flu symptoms that are common in winter.

Want to learn more phrases and idioms to use in Winter? Watch this video to see them used in context: