cold greetings

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cold greetings" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a greeting that lacks warmth or friendliness, often implying a sense of distance or formality. Example: "When she walked into the room, the cold greetings from her colleagues made her feel unwelcome."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

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

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

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

Los Angeles Times

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

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

The Guardian - Sport

Ask the daffodil bulb in the cold of winter, greeting the early March sun.

Huffington Post

Collects cold cash delivering warm greetings.

Forbes

Bonobos surely find the non-genital nature of ritualised human greeting bizarrely cold, if not outright unnatural.

The Economist

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

Some days, walking the streets of Washington, a seemingly colder place where people don't always exchange greetings, I feel nostalgic for the days of black privilege that George Clinton crooned about.

The New York Times

Greetings from Fassbinder-land, where love is colder than death, and both are on the agenda.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cold greetings", consider the context. It's most effective when highlighting a deliberate lack of warmth or an intentional distancing in a social interaction.

Common error

Avoid using "cold greetings" to describe situations where the lack of warmth is unintentional. Opt for phrases like "formal greeting" or "businesslike greeting" if the situation calls for professional detachment, rather than implying negativity or animosity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cold greetings" functions as a noun phrase, where "cold" modifies the noun "greetings". It describes the quality or characteristic of the greetings, indicating a lack of warmth or friendliness. Ludwig confirms its proper usage in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cold greetings" describes a welcome lacking warmth or friendliness. Ludwig AI indicates its correctness and usability. It's grammatically sound, functioning as a noun phrase, and serves to highlight an unwelcoming atmosphere. While not overly frequent, occurring uncommonly in writing, it appears primarily in news and media contexts, as shown in Ludwig's examples. Alternatives like "unfriendly reception" or "icy reception" can offer similar connotations. When employing the phrase, remember that it implies a deliberate lack of warmth, rather than a mere absence of it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unfriendly reception

Emphasizes the lack of friendliness in the welcome.

icy reception

Highlights the unwelcoming and hostile nature of the greeting.

cool welcome

Suggests a lack of enthusiasm and warmth in the welcome.

distant greeting

Focuses on the emotional distance conveyed in the greeting.

unenthusiastic welcome

Indicates a lack of excitement or warmth in the reception.

formal reception

Highlights the adherence to protocol without warmth or friendliness.

strained welcome

Implies tension or discomfort in the greeting.

lukewarm reception

Suggests a lack of enthusiasm or interest in the welcome.

chilly reception

Similar to "icy reception", implying a lack of warmth and friendliness.

reserved greeting

Highlights the restrained and unemotional nature of the greeting.

FAQs

What does "cold greetings" mean?

"Cold greetings" refers to a reception or welcome that lacks warmth, friendliness, or enthusiasm. It suggests a sense of distance, formality, or even hostility in the way someone is greeted.

What can I say instead of "cold greetings"?

You can use alternatives like "unfriendly reception", "icy reception", or "cool welcome" to convey a similar meaning depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the term "cold greetings"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize the deliberate absence of warmth or friendliness in a greeting, often implying a negative or unwelcoming atmosphere.

How does a "cold greeting" differ from a formal greeting?

While a formal greeting might simply adhere to protocol and lack overt emotion, a "cold greeting" actively conveys a sense of distance, rejection, or even animosity. It's not just neutral; it's unwelcoming.