frozen
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freeze (on)to (something)
To adhere to something through the act of freezing. Is it true that my tongue could freeze to a telephone pole in this cold weather? Can we put both ice packs in this compartment, or will they freeze onto each other? My feet are so cold, it feels like they've frozen to the ground!
See also: freeze
freeze (something) into (something)
1. To subject something to cold temperatures and cause it to change state. The frigid air froze the remaining snow into a sheet of ice. The temperature plummeted and froze the pond into an ice skating rink. Honey, you can't really freeze melted ice cream back into hard scoops.
2. To subject something to cold temperatures so that it assumes a particular shape. I entertained the kids with a special ice cube tray that freezes water into hearts and stars. If you use that opal wand, you can freeze your enemies into blocks of ice. We'll use silicone molds to freeze the mixture into fun shapes.
See also: freeze
freeze over
To become covered in ice, often of a body of water. I know the lake has frozen over, but I still don't think it's safe for you kids to go skating on it. Once the temperature plummeted, it wasn't long before the pond froze over. It's always kind of sad when the lake freezes over, but I know nature will have her rebirth in the springtime.
freeze to death
1. Literally, to die as a result of exposure to cold temperatures. Gus would have frozen to death had the rescue crew not found him when they did. By the time they found the man trapped by the avalanche, he had frozen to death. I know it's cold, but you're not gonna freeze to death. Stop being such a drama queen!
2. To cause someone to die as a result of exposure to cold temperatures. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "freeze" and "to." The blistering cold would have frozen Gus to death had the rescue crew not found him when they did. Get away from the lake! If you fall in there, the water will freeze you to death! It was absolutely terrifying to be trapped under the snow, knowing full well that it could freeze me to death.
3. To feel extremely cold. You'll freeze to death if you go outside without a coat! Is the bus ever coming? I'm freezing to death here! Recess isn't very fun in the wintertime—we just stand around outside and freeze to death!
4. To cause someone to feel extremely cold. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "freeze" and "to." We need to bundle up so the frigid wind doesn't freeze us to death. Hey, the bitter cold will freeze you to death if you go out without a coat! Ugh, I got snow in my boots, and my wet socks are going to freeze me to death.
frozen in time
Not changing or updating; completely static. I feel like all of our life's plans have been frozen in time since the accident. She hasn't updated her kitchen since the '60s—it's basically frozen in time. I didn't expect our old neighborhood to stay frozen in time, but wow, it's really changed! Look at all these new stores!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
freeze over
[for a body of water] to get cold and form a layer of ice on top. The pond froze over, so we went skating.
freeze someone or something to death
1. Lit. [for cold weather] to kill someone or something. I was afraid that the cold snap would freeze the dog to death.
2. Fig. to make someone or something very cold. This weather is going to freeze us all to death.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
chilled to the marrow
orfrozen to the marrow
mainly BRITISHIf you are chilled to the marrow or frozen to the marrow, you are very cold. Note: `Marrow' is the fatty substance inside the bones of a person or animal. She was chilled to the marrow and wet through.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
freeze over
v.
1. To freeze completely at the surface: Once the pond freezes over we can go skating.
2. To become covered with a layer of ice: The bridge has frozen over, so drive very carefully.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.