at its iciest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at its iciest" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation, condition, or state that is extremely cold or harsh, often metaphorically. Example: "The winter was brutal, and the lake was at its iciest, making it impossible to skate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The cold war was at its iciest.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

A paralyzing 2,000-mile 2,000-mileinter at itswathwy, icy, messy wofst pushed eastwintercross the United States on Tuesday, ditsupting the rhythmsnowyeveryday licy and punctuating this season's recurring lesson that humessynd has no dominion over nature.

The New York Times

Using its suite of instruments, the spacecraft will measure how the comet changes as it nears the sun, and what gases it will expel from its icy nucleus, and at what rate.

Los Angeles Times

To make matters worse, the transition date occurs when the weather in most of the country is at its coldest and iciest.

The New York Times - Tech

Where else is this happening?" Buffalo seemed at last to emerge from its icy cocoon today as workers from the city and surrounding Erie County, along with 170 National Guard troops, continued the onerous task of clearing Buffalo's biggest five-day snowfall on record from the roadways of a city legendary for its winter storms.

The New York Times

As its icy surface roasted at about 1000 kelvin, the comet disgorged a surprisingly broad dust tail and a fainter but pronounced tail of ionized gas.

Science Magazine

The less-than-impressive bunch includes three fried possibilities: ice cream, banana and cheesecake (the last was still icy cold at its core).

The New York Times

ICY ATLANTIC WINS AT MONMOUTH Icy Atlantic rallied in the stretch to beat Touched By Madness in the Red Bank Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The New York Times - Sports

Both are prime examples of the pungent power of snowblind club music at it's steely, icy best.

Vice

Last week, in Florida, I finally got a close look at this icy confection, and it is definitely nothing like bonbons.

The New Yorker

Rosetta should arrive at the icy body in early August, when it will then start mapping the object to find a safe spot to put down its little lander.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at its iciest" to vividly describe a situation or environment experiencing extreme cold, particularly when you want to emphasize a harsh or challenging condition. For example, "The relationship was at its iciest after the argument."

Common error

Avoid using "at its iciest" in casual conversation or informal writing where simpler terms like "coldest" or "most frigid" might be more appropriate. The phrase carries a slightly formal or literary tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at its iciest" functions as an adverbial modifier, describing the state or condition of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound. The example provided by Ludwig shows it modifying a noun to describe the cold war.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at its iciest" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to describe something at its coldest or most severe. While relatively rare in occurrence, as shown by Ludwig, it finds its place in descriptive writing across news media and scientific contexts. When crafting content, use this phrase when you need to emphasize a really bad winter, for example. If a more direct word choice is sufficient then consider "at its coldest" instead.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at its coldest

Replaces "iciest" with "coldest", a more common synonym.

at its most frigid

Substitutes "iciest" with "most frigid", emphasizing extreme cold.

at its frostiest

Uses "frostiest" instead of "iciest", highlighting frost-related coldness.

at its chilliest

Replaces "iciest" with "chilliest", a slightly less intense term for coldness.

in its deepest freeze

Emphasizes the depth and intensity of the freezing condition.

at its most glacial

Compares the coldness to that of a glacier, implying slow and intense cold.

at its most bitter

Focuses on the harsh and unpleasant nature of the cold.

at its harshest winter

Specifies that the cold is during winter and is at its worst.

at its most severe winter

Expresses extreme winter conditions.

at its most glacial conditions

Emphasis on the cold conditions and its nature.

FAQs

What does it mean to say something is "at its iciest"?

Saying something is "at its iciest" means it's at its coldest or most severe point, often used metaphorically to describe relationships or situations.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "at its iciest"?

The phrase "at its iciest" is appropriate when you want to emphasize the extreme coldness or harshness of a situation, especially in a metaphorical or descriptive context. Using alternatives like "at its coldest" may also be suitable depending on your intent.

What are some alternatives to saying "at its iciest"?

Some alternatives to "at its iciest" include "at its coldest", "at its most frigid", or "in its deepest freeze".

How does "at its iciest" compare to "at its coldest" in terms of meaning?

"At its iciest" and "at its coldest" are similar in meaning, both describing the most extreme point of coldness. However, "at its iciest" often carries a stronger connotation of harshness or severity.