icy reception

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "icy reception" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It typically refers to a cold or unfriendly welcome or response. Example: Despite her excitement, Jane received an icy reception from her coworkers when she announced her promotion.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

The vice president received an icy reception when he visited the company's headquarters in Redmond, Wash., last November.

The New York Times

"New ideas tend to get an icy reception," he said, "and it would be a poor researcher who couldn't defend a new idea, if it is any good".

Independent

A recent article in the Harvard Business Review, in which Messrs Stalk and Lachenauer aired their ideas, got an icy reception in some quarters.

The Economist

The Indiana freshman Eric Gordon must have known he was going to face an icy reception when the Hoosiers traveled to play Illinois on Thursday night.

The New York Times

And after a three-game sweep here, which concluded Thursday afternoon with a 12-8 loss to the Cardinals, the Mets should probably brace for an icy reception.

The New York Times - Sports

If they cannot work together, Mr Lee's proposals may face an icy reception in parliament.Mr Lee has few specific ideas about getting North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons, beyond making aid and investment conditional on disarmament.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

"We know that being excluded is psychologically painful," said the lead author, Chen-Bo Zhong, a psychologist at the University of Toronto, "and here we found that it feels just like it's described in metaphors," like icy stare and frosty reception.

The New York Times - Health

They declined to promote an album Dammers had allegedly spent a fortune recording, presumably in the belief that no amount of advertising could convince people to listen to something so austere and folorn, a belief perhaps bolstered by the icy commercial reception afforded to two further singles, War Crimes and Racist Friend.

The Guardian - Music

His work wasn't always so welcome, though: "Icy" initially had a bumpy reception.

The New York Times - Arts

Brace yourself for the icy blast from the so-called reception desk.

The New York Times

I hope his reception is warm, not icy, in the Christian communities of North America where the film will be released.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "icy reception" to describe situations where the lack of warmth or enthusiasm is palpable and creates a noticeably negative atmosphere.

Common error

Avoid using "icy reception" in casual conversations; it's more appropriate for formal writing and situations where the unwelcoming response has significant implications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "icy reception" functions as a noun phrase typically acting as the object of a verb. Ludwig AI indicates it is correctly used to describe an unwelcoming or unfriendly greeting.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "icy reception" is a commonly used noun phrase to describe an unwelcoming or unfriendly greeting. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical status is correct, and it frequently appears in news and media contexts. While versatile, it's most appropriate for neutral to formal registers, signaling disapproval or lack of enthusiasm. For alternative expressions, consider phrases like "cold welcome" or "hostile greeting" to convey similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cold welcome

Replaces "reception" with "welcome", maintaining a similar level of formality and meaning.

unfriendly welcome

Specifies the nature of the reception as unfriendly, adding a slightly more descriptive element.

chilly welcome

Uses "chilly" as a synonym for "icy", offering a slightly less harsh tone.

cool greeting

Replaces "icy" with "cool", suggesting a lack of warmth or enthusiasm.

hostile greeting

Substitutes "reception" with "greeting" and "icy" with "hostile", intensifying the unwelcoming nature.

unenthusiastic response

Shifts the focus from the greeting to the response itself, implying a lack of excitement or support.

lukewarm greeting

Replaces "icy" with "lukewarm", softening the negative connotation slightly.

unreceptive attitude

Focuses on the attitude displayed rather than the greeting itself, broadening the scope of the phrase.

unwelcoming atmosphere

Describes the general environment or feeling, rather than a specific greeting.

negative response

Generalizes the reception to a negative reaction, suitable for a wider range of contexts.

FAQs

What does it mean to receive an "icy reception"?

Receiving an "icy reception" means encountering a cold, unfriendly, or unwelcoming greeting or response. It suggests a lack of enthusiasm or warmth from the people you are interacting with.

What can I say instead of "icy reception"?

You can use alternatives like "cold welcome", "unfriendly welcome", or "hostile greeting" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "icy reception" formal or informal?

"Icy reception" is generally considered more formal and suitable for news articles, business reports, or academic writing. In casual conversation, simpler alternatives like "cold shoulder" or "unfriendly greeting" might be more appropriate.

How to use "icy reception" in a sentence?

You can use "icy reception" in sentences like: "The new proposal met with an "icy reception" from the board members" or "The team braced themselves for an "icy reception" upon their return after the defeat".