she was cold

USAGE SUMMARY

"she was cold" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you need to express that someone felt a physical sensation of being cold, either due to being in a cold environment or due to illness. For example: "She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself, feeling the cold as if it were coming from within her body - she was cold."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

She was cold.

The New Yorker

She was cold and clammy all over.

The New Yorker

But against St . Lukes, she was cold.

The New York Times - Sports

"My father said she was cold.

The New York Times

She hugged herself, like she was cold.

The New Yorker

"She was cold," recalls Colorado Rep. Jerry Kopel, a Democrat.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

He says she's cold".

The New Yorker

He is warm and passionate and she is cold.

The New Yorker

People think she's cold, contemptuous or haughty.

The Guardian

Yet the press says that she's cold.

The New Yorker

He's warm, she's cold; he was a politician, she's a theoretician.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a character's physical state, use "she was cold" to simply and directly convey the sensation of coldness. For emotional contexts, consider more nuanced alternatives like "she was distant" or "she was aloof".

Common error

Avoid using "she was cold" excessively to describe personality, as it can be a cliché. Explore richer, more descriptive language to convey emotional distance or unfriendliness. For example, consider phrases like "she remained aloof" or "her demeanor was icy."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she was cold" functions as a descriptive statement, indicating that a female subject experienced a sensation of coldness, either physically or emotionally. Ludwig demonstrates its usage across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "she was cold" is a common and versatile expression used to describe a physical sensation or an emotional state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While straightforward, writers should be mindful of potential clichés when using it metaphorically and explore more nuanced alternatives to convey emotional distance. Remember to consider the context to determine the appropriate meaning and usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she felt chilly

Replaces "cold" with "chilly", suggesting a milder sensation of coldness.

she was freezing

Emphasizes a more intense sensation of cold, implying extreme coldness.

she had the chills

Indicates coldness accompanied by shivering, often due to illness.

she shivered from the cold

Focuses on the physical reaction to being cold, highlighting the shivering.

she was feeling the cold

A more descriptive way of saying she was experiencing coldness.

a cold feeling enveloped her

Implies a pervasive sense of coldness, often used metaphorically.

she was unresponsive

Describes cold as lack of emotion

she was frigid

Indicates lack of warmth in personality or physical sensation. More of a personality aspect.

she was icy

Similar to "frigid", suggesting a cold and unfriendly demeanor. More of a personality aspect.

she was distant

Conveys emotional coldness, implying a lack of warmth in her interactions.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone says "she was cold"?

The phrase "she was cold" can mean the person felt physically cold, or it can describe someone who is emotionally distant or unfriendly. The meaning depends on the context.

What are some synonyms for "she was cold" when describing physical sensation?

When describing physical coldness, you can use phrases like "she felt chilly", "she was freezing", or "she had the chills".

How can I use "she was cold" in a sentence?

You can use "she was cold" in a sentence like, "She wrapped herself in a blanket because she was cold" to describe a physical sensation, or, "She was cold towards him after their argument" to describe someone's emotional state.

What are some alternatives to "she was cold" when describing someone's personality?

For describing a cold personality, consider alternatives such as "she was distant", "she was icy", or "she was unresponsive". These options offer more nuance than simply stating "she was cold".