a cold greeting

USAGE SUMMARY

'a cold greeting' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to emphasize when someone gives a hostile, indifferent, or unfriendly greeting; for example: "His colleagues gave him a cold greeting when he returned from his extended leave of absence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

As they slid into the presidential pew, the Trumps received a cold greeting.

The New York Times

Bullish gold traders got a cold greeting, as prices slumped $27.50, to $967.50 an ounce, after a recent-run up that topped the $1,000.00 mark.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

When McKinley led the delegation of Republican dignitaries sent to formally advise Harrison of his convention triumph, the President, angered over the "profusion of McKinley buttons, placards and streamers that littered [his] path to victory", had only a cold formal greeting for the Ohio governor.

Wikipedia

His Christmas party at the Russian Trade Mission building was a hot ticket, and he stood outside in the cold greeting each guest.

The New York Times

'Aloha': Cameron Crowe rom-com gets cold greeting from critics.

Los Angeles Times

And this from Sasu Laaksonen: "A cold yet warm greeting from the big-time snowy Finland.

The Guardian - Sport

Within five minutes, on his return from the Virginian wars, he had woken his late father's manservant, Jud Paynter, the ever-splendid Phil Davis, not with a warm greeting but a cold bucket of water, and his Jud-treatment didn't improve one whit, despite the latter taking a barrel of punches for the marster towards the end of the hour.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Or a cold, cold, cold, cold prickly?

The New Yorker

In the U.S., where hand-shaking is a common greeting, people with colds and flu are begging off from the custom out of regard for others' health.

SEP

Never start a conversation without a greeting.

The Guardian - Travel

A lament substituted for a greeting.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a cold greeting" to describe a situation where the initial reception is noticeably unfriendly or unwelcoming. This can effectively set the tone for a scene or convey character relationships.

Common error

Avoid using "a cold greeting" when you mean simply 'a quiet greeting'. The phrase implies active unfriendliness, not just a lack of exuberance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a cold greeting" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective 'cold' modifies the noun 'greeting'. It describes the quality of the greeting as being unfriendly or unwelcoming. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

17%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a cold greeting" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe an unfriendly reception, as confirmed by Ludwig. While relatively rare, it effectively conveys a lack of warmth in various contexts, predominantly in news and media. When writing, be mindful of the nuance; it signifies active unfriendliness, not mere quietness. Consider alternatives like "unwelcoming reception" or "hostile greeting" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unwelcoming reception

Focuses on the lack of welcome, implying a lack of warmth or hospitality.

hostile greeting

Emphasizes animosity and antagonism in the greeting.

frigid welcome

Uses 'frigid' to suggest extreme coldness and unfriendliness.

unfriendly salutation

Replaces "greeting" with the more formal "salutation" and "cold" with "unfriendly".

icy reception

Implies a lack of warmth and emotional connection, highlighting the emotional distance.

distant greeting

Emphasizes the emotional or physical distance in the way someone is greeted.

lackluster welcome

Suggests the greeting was unenthusiastic and uninspired.

chilly reception

Uses 'chilly' to imply a slightly unfriendly or unwelcoming atmosphere.

unenthusiastic greeting

Focuses on the lack of enthusiasm or excitement in the greeting.

perfunctory greeting

Highlights that the greeting was carried out with minimal effort or enthusiasm, often as a mere formality.

FAQs

How can I use "a cold greeting" in a sentence?

You can use "a cold greeting" to describe an unfriendly or unwelcoming reception, such as, "The new employee received "a cold greeting" from their coworkers on their first day".

What's a synonym for "a cold greeting"?

Alternatives to "a cold greeting" include "unwelcoming reception", "hostile greeting", or "icy reception", all of which convey a sense of unfriendliness or lack of warmth.

Is "a cold greeting" formal or informal?

"A cold greeting" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although it is more commonly found in descriptive writing across various registers.

What's the difference between "a cold greeting" and "a polite greeting"?

While "a cold greeting" implies unfriendliness or animosity, "a polite greeting" suggests proper etiquette without necessarily conveying genuine warmth. The former is negative, while the latter is neutral.