as cold as winter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as cold as winter" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is extremely cold, often in a figurative sense. Example: "The wind howled through the trees, and the air felt as cold as winter, biting at my skin."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Mark Twain visited it, found the atmosphere of the island eerie, and described it as "being as cold as winter, even in the summer months", and The Washington Post has also claimed that Alcatraz is a place "where visitors can sense the dread of past inhabitants still trapped in the atmosphere".

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In general, cold winter days in 2010 turned out to be less cold than equivalent days in earlier years had been.Overall, judging by pressures and winds, 2009-10 shaved have been as cold as 1963, the coldest winter in the records analysed, with temperatures on average 4°C lower than normal.

The Economist

What was it Mark Twain said about no winter being as cold as summer in San Francisco?

Independent

Regardless of how forecasters label the phenomenon, Champion predicted that it would cause this year's winter to be just as cold as last year.

Huffington Post

Every year, the US media promise "A chilling new discovery" and "Latest twist", even though the case remains as cold as Christmas in Colorado.

The Guardian

To steal from Mark Twain and his observation of summer in San Francisco, there is no autumn in England as cold as spring in Wentworth.

Independent

"Tonight somewhere in America," he said, "a 10-year-old little girl will go to bed hungry, hoping and praying that tomorrow will not be as cold as today, because she doesn't have the coat to keep her warm.

The New York Times

In a winter as cold as this past one, it's possible for bees to cluster so tightly, trying to keep warm, that they're unable to move to their stores of honey a few inches away.

The New York Times

In his stump speech about the "two Americas," he has repeatedly deplored the plight of the 35 million Americans below the poverty line by imagining a 10-year-old girl "somewhere in America" who goes to bed "praying that tomorrow will not be as cold as today, because she doesn't have the coat to keep her warm".

The New York Times

"Temperature-wise it was not as cold as last year's Het Nieuwsblad [a race which started in sub-zero temperatures, in which Thomas finished fourth], but the fact that it was wet and that it was snowing makes you that much colder again".

BBC

Obama's initial negotiating position is as cold as yesterday's mashed potatoes.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase to vividly describe not only temperature but also emotional or atmospheric coldness, such as "a relationship as cold as winter".

Common error

Avoid using "as cold as winter" in overly predictable or clichéd situations. Strive for originality by relating the coldness to unexpected or specific details to make your writing more impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions primarily as a simile, used to draw a comparison and emphasize the extreme degree of coldness. It connects a subject with the well-understood and universally experienced coldness of winter. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a common and usable comparison.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as cold as winter" is a simile employed to convey extreme coldness, suitable for both literal and figurative descriptions. It is a grammatically correct and usable expression, as confirmed by Ludwig. While not extremely frequent, it appears across various contexts like news, wiki, and science. To add originality, use it in unexpected situations. Alternatives such as "bitterly cold like winter" or "icy as a winter's day" can add nuance. Although the phrase follows standard English conventions, it is best practice to avoid overuse in clichéd contexts, and in general the phrase is well-understood and can be used in different communicative contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bitterly cold like winter

Emphasizes the biting and unpleasant aspect of the cold, similar to winter.

icy as a winter's day

Highlights the iciness and typical coldness associated with a winter day.

frigid like a winter night

Focuses on the frigid or intensely cold nature of a winter night.

chilling as winter's breath

Uses a metaphor to convey the chilling effect, comparing it to winter's breath.

wintry chill

A more concise way to refer to the coldness characteristic of winter.

arctic chill

Implies a coldness comparable to that of the Arctic region.

glacial coldness

Suggests a coldness reminiscent of glaciers, implying extreme and enduring cold.

bone-chilling cold

Emphasizes the penetrating and uncomfortable nature of the cold.

deep freeze

A more general term to describe intense cold, often associated with winter.

freezing temperatures

A straightforward description of temperatures at or below the freezing point of water.

FAQs

How can I use "as cold as winter" in a sentence?

You can use "as cold as winter" to describe extremely cold temperatures or to metaphorically describe something that feels emotionally cold or unwelcoming. For example, "The abandoned house felt "as cold as winter"".

What is a good alternative to "as cold as winter"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "bitterly cold", "freezing cold", or "icy" to describe something that is extremely cold.

Is it correct to say "as cold as the winter"?

While grammatically understandable, it is more common and idiomatic to say ""as cold as winter"" without the definite article "the".

Can "as cold as winter" be used metaphorically?

Yes, ""as cold as winter"" can be used metaphorically to describe something that feels emotionally distant, unfriendly, or harsh, not just physical temperature.