heart of ice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "heart of ice" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is emotionally cold, unfeeling, or lacking compassion. Example: "Despite her charming exterior, she had a heart of ice that made it difficult for her to connect with others."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

You would have to have a heart of ice not to be a bit melancholy.

The New York Times

The movie, to be shown tomorrow at 8 p.m. at the New School, could be described as a mock comedy of manners with a heart of ice.

The New York Times

In addition to his reply, Moore sent Joshua a copy of the just published League book Heart of Ice, and some art by Kevin O'Neill for the then unreleased follow-up, The Roses of Berlin.

The Guardian - Books

With his shifty, deep-set eyes that don't quite focus, and features that never settle into a readable expression beyond cunningly faked naïveté, he projects an ominous disengagement behind which you sense a heart of ice.

The New York Times

It is indecent to look for the good in an act of mass murder, and yet one would have to be possessed of a heart of ice not to have felt in recent weeks the signs of Whitman's legacy: a civic and national spirit of resolve, improvisation, and kindness when panic and meanness might also have been expected.

The New Yorker

Finally, Heart of Ice ends the album with nearly seven minutes of slowly building musical tension – easily the most jazz-influenced track – before a brief lyrical disclaimer that the singer may be trying to shed himself of his cold-hearted posturing that typified his earlier songs.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Yes, It's Me, the Person Who Provides a Narrow, Self-serving Definition of Patriotism Eggs Bacon A trebuchet to sling uncooked eggs and bacon at the liberal media Ten large Pizza Hut Constitution Lovers pizzas Ice Ice cream The hearts of ice ripped from the chests of our oppressive government officials Throw rugs, but, like, ones that are tasteful.

The New Yorker

Robert Pierce, who owns American Ice, in Dallas — the heart of Packaged Ice country — says that in the summer of 1999 he was taking ten or fifteen calls a day from disgruntled P.I. customers.

The New Yorker

What lies at the heart of this ice cold monument to the eternal power of cool as a concept?

Vice

From the dark, Ricardio, the living heart of the Ice King, introduces himself, tossing an unconscious Finn and Jake into the light.

Wikipedia

In this episode, Finn believes that Princess Bubblegum's (voiced by Hynden Walch) new friend, a heart named Ricardio, is evil, and is proven right after learning that Ricardio is the heart of the Ice King (voiced by Tom Kenny).

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "heart of ice" to vividly portray a character's emotional coldness or lack of empathy in narrative or descriptive writing.

Common error

While effective in narration, repeatedly using "heart of ice" in character dialogue can sound unnatural or cliché. Instead, show their coldness through actions and subtle remarks.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heart of ice" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often used metaphorically to describe someone who is emotionally cold, unfeeling, or lacks compassion. Ludwig AI confirms this is a standard usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "heart of ice" is a grammatically correct and somewhat common idiom used to describe someone who is emotionally cold or lacks empathy. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely accepted and used in various contexts, primarily in news and media, and wiki. While effective for conveying emotional coldness, overuse, particularly in dialogue, should be avoided to maintain naturalness. Alternatives like "cold-heartedness" or "lack of empathy" offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances. Overall, "heart of ice" is a vivid and useful phrase for portraying emotional detachment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cold-heartedness

Emphasizes the lack of warmth and empathy in a person's character, focusing on the attribute itself.

lack of empathy

Directly states the absence of understanding and sharing the feelings of others.

unfeeling nature

Highlights the absence of emotional response or sensitivity.

callous disposition

Suggests a hardened and insensitive attitude towards others.

emotionally detached

Describes a state of being aloof and disconnected from one's own and others' emotions.

unsentimental

Indicates a lack of sentimentality or emotional expressiveness.

indifference

Highlights a lack of interest or concern.

apathy

Focuses on the lack of motivation or enthusiasm towards emotional situations.

stone-cold

Describes someone as extremely cold and unfeeling.

devoid of emotion

Emphasizes the complete absence of feelings.

FAQs

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

You can use "heart of ice" to describe someone who lacks empathy or is emotionally cold. For example, "Despite her outward charm, she had a "heart of ice" and struggled to form genuine connections."

What are some alternatives to saying "heart of ice"?

Alternatives include "cold-hearted", "unfeeling", or "emotionally detached" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say someone has a "heart of ice"?

Yes, it is a grammatically correct and commonly used idiom to describe someone lacking in warmth or empathy.

What's the difference between having a "heart of ice" and being "cold-hearted"?

While similar, ""heart of ice"" often implies a more profound and inherent lack of emotion, whereas ""cold-hearted"" may suggest a deliberate choice to be unfeeling or cruel.