cold
cold — adjective
1. noticeably colder than what a person finds comfortable — used for weather, food,
noticeably colder than what a person finds comfortable — used for weather, food, drinks, objects, and parts of the body.
The water in the lake was too cold for swimming.
collocation: cold water / cold weather
Ravi put on a woollen hat because the wind felt cold.
The pizza had gone cold while we waited for Priya.
The clinic floor tiles felt cold against bare feet.
Leila poured cold milk into her hot coffee and stirred.
文法句型
be/get/feel/grow/turn + cold
cold + noun
用法筆記
Commonly used after linking verbs: be/get/feel/turn/grow cold. For food and drinks that are served at a low temperature on purpose (e.g. cold beer, cold noodles), use iced or chilled for emphasis on 'intentionally served cold' vs. 'has lost its heat.'
常見錯誤
2. behaving toward others in a way that shows no warmth, kindness, or friendly feel
behaving toward others in a way that shows no warmth, kindness, or friendly feeling — used of a person's manner, voice, expression, or the atmosphere in a room or relationship.
The new manager gave the team a cold stare when they arrived late.
collocation: cold stare / cold look / cold voice
Yusuf tried to start a conversation, but the receptionist remained cold and distant.
A cold atmosphere filled the room after the argument.
Diego received a cold welcome when he joined the new team.
Hana received a cold reply and decided not to ask again.
- unfriendly
direct synonym; not showing friendliness
- distant
emotionally removed, not engaging with others
- chilly
less intense than cold; a chilly response is cool but not openly hostile
- icy
very cold and hostile; stronger intensity than cold
文法句型
be + cold + to/toward + noun
cold + noun (stare/voice/response/welcome)
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 (LOW TEMPERATURE), this sense only applies to people, their behaviour, words, looks, or the mood of a situation — not to physical objects or weather. Distinguish from sense 1 by checking whether the subject is a person or an abstract quality.
常見錯誤
3. describing a criminal investigation that remains open after years with no progre
describing a criminal investigation that remains open after years with no progress, making it unlikely that the case will ever be closed.
The detective still works on cold cases from twenty years ago.
collocation: cold case
A cold murder case was reopened after a witness came forward with new information.
Police moved the cold files to storage after all leads went nowhere.
The department formed a cold case unit to examine old unsolved crimes.
- unsolved
broader term; any problem or mystery that has not been solved
文法句型
cold + noun (case/murder/investigation/file)
用法筆記
Only used attributively before a noun (cold case, cold file, cold investigation). Cannot be used predicatively: 'The case is cold' is acceptable in informal police jargon, but learners should stick to attributive use.
常見錯誤
4. situation in a guessing game where the player is far from the solution they are
situation in a guessing game where the player is far from the solution they are hunting for — used as a clue to guide the seeker.
In the treasure hunt the children were told they were cold.
When the player is cold the hidden object is far from their guess.
game rule: 'cold' = far from answer; 'hot' = close
Kofi knew he was cold when his teammates laughed at his guess.
The teacher told Noa she was cold and should look in a different room.
- far off
informal; not close to the correct answer in a game or search
- hot
very close to the answer or hiding place in a game
文法句型
be + cold
you're getting colder
用法筆記
Used exclusively in children's guessing games and some detective-style activities. The opposite is hot (very close). Learners often encounter this in the expression 'you're getting warmer' vs. 'you're getting colder.'
常見錯誤
cold — noun
1. a common viral infection that affects your upper airways, causing sneezing, coug
a common viral infection that affects your upper airways, causing sneezing, coughing, and a runny nose.
Tomás caught a cold and stayed home from school for two days.
collocation: catch a cold
Drink plenty of hot tea when you have a cold to soothe your throat.
collocation: have a cold
The cold spread quickly through the classroom in winter.
Hana's cold got better after she rested and drank warm soup.
The pharmacist recommended some medicine for my cold.
- head cold
a cold that mainly affects the nose and sinuses
- common cold
the full medical name for this illness
文法句型
have/get/catch + a cold
come down with + a cold
用法筆記
Requires the article 'a' in singular form: 'I have a cold' — not 'I have cold.' The plural 'colds' is common: 'She catches three colds every winter.' Do not capitalise it like a medical diagnosis name.
常見錯誤
2. low temperature in the air or in the environment; weather that feels cold or the
low temperature in the air or in the environment; weather that feels cold or the absence of warmth.
Amara went inside after standing in the cold for half an hour.
collocation: in the cold
Farmers worry about the cold when it threatens their fruit trees.
The cold of the night forced the campers to build a fire.
A sudden cold swept across the city after the storm passed.
The animals sought shelter from the cold in a cave.
- coldness
the quality or state of being cold; more abstract
- low temperature
technical term for the scientific measure
- chill
a mild, unpleasant coldness in the air
- heat
high temperature; hot weather
文法句型
the + cold
in the cold
escape/protect from the cold
用法筆記
Typically used with the definite article 'the cold' when referring to cold weather in general, or without an article when used in abstract compounds (cold tolerance, cold protection). Distinguish from sense 1 (ILLNESS): 'the cold' = low temperature, 'a cold' = illness.
常見錯誤
cold — adverb
1. in a way that is total and complete, especially when stopping or ending somethin
in a way that is total and complete, especially when stopping or ending something with no hesitation or possibility of continuing.
The engine stopped cold when the fuel line snapped.
pattern: stop + cold (completely and suddenly)
The negotiations came to a halt cold after the deal fell through.
Diego quit the project cold and walked out without a word.
The car stopped cold in the middle of the highway.
- completely
standard adverb; less vivid but works in all registers
文法句型
Verb + cold (stop/quit/halt)
用法筆記
Only combines with a narrow set of verbs of stopping or ending: stop cold, quit cold, halt cold. Not productive — you cannot say 'finish cold' or 'end cold.'
常見錯誤
2. without any previous introduction, warning, or arrangement — used especially whe
without any previous introduction, warning, or arrangement — used especially when contacting or approaching someone for the first time.
The salesperson cold-called every home in the area.
compound: cold-call (contact without prior notice)
Rashida cold-emailed the CEO and was surprised to get a reply.
The journalist cold-approached the athlete after the match.
Theo walked in cold and asked to speak to the manager.
- unannounced
more formal; without prior notice
- by appointment
with prior arrangement
文法句型
cold + Verb (call/approach/contact/email)
用法筆記
Often combined with a verb using a hyphen to form compounds: cold-call, cold-email, cold-approach. The hyphen is optional but common in written English.
常見錯誤
3. without any practice, rehearsal, or physical warm-up before starting a performan
without any practice, rehearsal, or physical warm-up before starting a performance, sport, or activity.
The singer had to perform cold when the warm-up act fell ill.
pattern: perform + cold (without rehearsal)
The actor delivered the lines cold without having read the script.
The basketball player went into the game cold after missing practice.
Students were asked to give a speech cold on the first day.
- unprepared
standard adverb; without prior preparation
- after warming up
after preparation or rehearsal
文法句型
Verb + cold (perform/sing/play/go in)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (WITHOUT NOTICE): sense 2 is about contacting people without prior arrangement; sense 3 is about performing an activity without prior preparation. Both can appear in the same sentence: 'He cold-called a client (sense 2) and then gave a presentation cold (sense 3).'