Expressions That 'Stop You Cold'
2024-12-22



And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.

In many parts of the world, temperatures are dropping for the winter season. But even for those in warm weather, our show on the word "cold" will help your English.

"Cold" is not just an adjective describing temperature. It can also describe stopping something suddenly and surprisingly. It also means starting or doing something without preparation.

These definitions give us several expressions and idioms.

When someone or something​ stops cold, it stops completely, suddenly, and perhaps with surprise. For example, I was surprised when my car stopped cold on a recent trip. I had just had it fixed! With this expression, we often say the thing or person being stopped. So, in that example, I could say engine trouble stopped my car cold.

When we stop (someone) cold, we completely stop them from doing something suddenly or immediately. Here's an example.

The sunset was so beautiful; it stopped me cold.

Sometimes, we add "in my tracks" to this expression, such as:

The sunset was so beautiful; it stopped me cold in my tracks.

Other variations of this expression include to stop (someone) dead in their tracks and to stop (someone) on a dime. They all mean the same thing - something or someone has come to a standstill. And we can use them the same way.

Now, let's talk about how we use cold in the business world.

Sometimes, we need to call someone who does not know us, and we do not know them. These are cold calls.

A cold call can also be a visit to a person or business. And usually we want to sell something. For example, a salesperson may have a cold call list to get new business.

Cold calls, whether on the phone or in-person, are unsolicited. This means that no one asked or requested contact.

In business and also in life, if you come to something cold or come into something cold, you are not prepared. Here is an example:

Last week, I came into the meeting cold. I hadn't read any of the materials.

However, if you come in from the cold, you are in luck. It means you rejoin a group or a normal society again after being outside. We often use this expression to describe someone like a spy who was able to come in from the cold and enjoy a normal life.

Come in from the cold can also be used when someone or something becomes popular, accepted, or active again after being unpopular, unaccepted, and inactive for a time.

And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories.

Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo.

Anna Matteo wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

track - n. a mark left by something that has gone by

variation - n. a change in form, position, or condition

dime - n. a coin of the U.S. worth ¹/₁₀ dollar

unsolicited - adj. not asked for or requested