cake of ice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cake of ice" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a block or solid piece of ice. Here are some examples: - The explorers had to break through a thick cake of ice to reach their campsite. - The bartender placed a cake of ice into the punch bowl to keep it cold. - The children had fun sliding on the frozen lake's cake of ice. - The ice sculptor carefully chiseled away at the large cake of ice to create a beautiful masterpiece. - I prefer my drinks with a large cake of ice instead of crushed ice.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Food & Drink

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"Willy Loman is trying to write his name on a cake of ice on a hot July day".

The New York Times

It wuz so hot once uh cake of ice walked away from de ice house and went down de street and fainted".

The New York Times - Books

The City of Philadelphia spent $250 to rescue a mongrel from a cake of ice drifting down the Delaware River, H.C. Babcock, a Miss.

The New Yorker

He is "trying to write his name on a cake of ice on a hot July day, but he wishes he were writing in stone" -- Mr. Miller's summing up of the Willy Lomans of the world.

The New York Times

"Willy Loman is trying to write his name on a cake of ice on a hot July day". His contradictions and his failings are all human and all common, which is why the hallucinatory last day of his life will always retain the power to command not just our pity but our respect too.

The New York Times

A slowly mesmerizing novel in which a baby found on a cake of ice off Newfoundland grows up to construct an existence seemingly untroubled by the nonexistence of a past, leaving it up to her children and grandchildren to figure out who she might be.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

In ice sculpture, regular 300-pound cakes of ice are generally used.

The New Yorker

It is a world of sliced pie and richly frosted cakes, of ice cream cones, soda bottles, drum majorettes, soup bowls, tie racks and yo-yos.

The New York Times - Arts

On a sweltering July day in 1979, he recalled to a reporter from The New York Times that during summer days at Yonkers, "We used to go around to the barns and get a picture of a horse nuzzling one of those great big cakes of ice".

The New York Times - Sports

When they rescued me, my arm had a cake of bloody ice frozen around it, sealing the wound.

The New York Times

The waiters see them coming and bring them cake and bags of ice, for their post-play aches.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cake of ice" when you want to emphasize the solidity and mass of a piece of ice, particularly when it's large enough to be considered a single, cohesive unit.

Common error

Avoid using "cake of ice" in contexts where you're referring to a metaphorical "cake" (e.g., "icing on the cake"). The phrase primarily refers to a literal block of frozen water.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cake of ice" functions primarily as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object or subject of a sentence. It describes a specific form of ice. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a valid term, as can be seen from the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Books

20%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cake of ice" is a grammatically correct and relatively uncommon noun phrase used to describe a solid mass of ice. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While generally neutral in register, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts. When writing, use "cake of ice" to emphasize the solidity and size of the ice formation. Consider alternatives like ""block of ice"" or ""slab of ice"" depending on the specific context. Avoid figurative uses that might be confused with other idiomatic expressions involving "cake".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

block of ice

This alternative uses a more common term, "block", to describe the solid mass of ice.

ice block

A simpler reordering of the words.

slab of ice

Replaces "cake" with "slab", suggesting a flatter, thicker piece of ice.

chunk of ice

Uses "chunk" to imply a rough or irregularly shaped piece of ice.

ice slab

Like "ice block", it reorders the elements for a similar meaning.

sheet of ice

This suggests a wider, thinner expanse of ice, like a frozen surface.

thick ice layer

Describes ice that has formed in a layer, and is thick.

lump of ice

Implies a smaller, less defined mass of ice.

frozen mass

A more generic way to describe the same concept.

solid ice formation

A formal way to state that the ice has taken a certain form.

FAQs

How can I use "cake of ice" in a sentence?

You can use "cake of ice" to describe a substantial block of ice, such as, "The boat struggled to break through the thick "cake of ice" on the lake."

What's a good substitute for the term "cake of ice"?

Alternatives include "block of ice", "slab of ice", or "chunk of ice", depending on the ice's shape and size.

Is it more appropriate to say "cake of ice" or "block of ice"?

Both phrases are valid. "Block of ice" is more common and generic, while "cake of ice" can imply a more substantial, cohesive mass.

Can "cake of ice" be used figuratively?

While primarily literal, "cake of ice" can be used metaphorically to suggest something cold, solid, and resistant to change, though this usage is rare.