Similes are fun figures of speech that compare two different things using the words like or as. People use them to make their writing and speaking much more descriptive and exciting to read. In this article, you are going to learn sixty wonderful similes that describe being cold, feeling icy, or experiencing freezing weather.
In this lesson, we’ll look at similes for cold that mean freezing, chilly, and frosty. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Similes for Cold
1. As cold as ice
Meaning: This means a temperature or object that is freezing cold to the touch.
For Example: When he stepped outside in January without gloves, his fingers felt as cold as ice. / The soda can straight from the refrigerator was as cold as ice.
Other Ways to Say: Freezing cold / Icy chill
2. Like a winter icicle
Description: This describes a long, sharp, frozen spike of water hanging from a roof edge.
For Example: His nose felt sharp and frozen like a winter icicle after playing in the snow. / The metal handrail outside felt stiff like a winter icicle.
Other Ways to Say: Frozen spike / Cold drop
3. As freezing as an arctic wind
Meaning: This means a powerful, bitter gust of wind that chills you to the bone.
For Example: The blast of air when the door opened was as freezing as an arctic wind. / Standing on the mountaintop felt as freezing as an arctic wind.
Other Ways to Say: Bitter blast / Arctic freeze
4. Like a block of frozen marble
Description: This describes hands or feet that have gone completely numb from the cold.
For Example: After skating on the outdoor pond for an hour, his toes felt like a block of frozen marble. / Her fingers were stiff like a block of frozen marble inside her mittens.
Other Ways to Say: Numb and hard / Frozen stone
5. As cold as a well digger’s knees
Meaning: This means an old-fashioned way to describe a very chilly, drafty environment.
For Example: The basement storage room during the winter months was as cold as a well digger’s knees. / His unheated treehouse felt as cold as a well digger’s knees in November.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely chilly / Very cold
6. Like a polar bear in snow
Description: This describes someone who feels right at home and comfortable in freezing temperatures.
For Example: He loved playing outside in the blizzard without a heavy coat like a polar bear in snow. / She ran through the cold yard like a polar bear in snow.
Other Ways to Say: Winter lover / Cold adapted
7. As frosty as a morning windowpane
Meaning: This means covered in delicate, crisp ice crystals after a cold night.
For Example: The grass across the lawn looked white and as frosty as a morning windowpane. / His breath in the early air was as frosty as a morning windowpane.
Other Ways to Say: Ice coated / Crisp white
8. Like a refrigerator left wide open
Description: This describes a room or hallway experiencing a drafty rush of cold air.
For Example: Leaving the back door open let the chilling breeze sweep through the house like a refrigerator left wide open. / The pantry hallway felt like a refrigerator left wide open.
Other Ways to Say: Drafty room / Cold rush
9. As cold as charity
Meaning: This means an unloving, chilly, and unwelcoming attitude from someone.
For Example: Her greeting when he arrived late to study group was as cold as charity. / The manager’s response to the complaint was as cold as charity.
Other Ways to Say: Unwelcoming mood / Chilly greeting
10. Like a frozen pond in January
Description: This describes a solid sheet of ice covering still water during peak winter.
For Example: The surface of the backyard birdbath looked solid like a frozen pond in January. / His composure during the difficult quiz remained smooth like a frozen pond in January.
Other Ways to Say: Solid ice / Deep freeze
11. As numb as a frozen fish
Meaning: This means losing all feeling in your fingers or toes due to winter weather.
For Example: After tossing snowballs without gloves, his hands were as numb as a frozen fish. / Her toes felt as numb as a frozen fish inside her wet boots.
Other Ways to Say: Completely numb / Loss of feeling
12. Like a winter gale sweeping the plains
Description: This describes a fierce, cold wind howling across an open landscape.
For Example: The draft rushing down the empty school hallway blew like a winter gale sweeping the plains. / The weather outside rattled the windows like a winter gale sweeping the plains.
Other Ways to Say: Howling wind / Fierce gust
13. As cold as a stone
Meaning: This means a lifeless object or unfeeling surface that holds no warmth.
For Example: The bench in the shade of the park was as cold as a stone in autumn. / His feet felt as cold as a stone inside his thin sneakers.
Other Ways to Say: Lifeless chill / Stone cold
14. Like an open freezer door
Description: This describes stepping into a blast of freezing air that chills you instantly.
For Example: Walking into the walk-in dairy cooler at the grocery store felt like an open freezer door. / The gust of wind hit her face like an open freezer door.
Other Ways to Say: Freezing blast / Chilling air
15. As white as winter snow
Meaning: This means a pale complexion caused by a sudden shiver of cold air.
For Example: When the cold wind hit his face, his skin turned as white as winter snow. / The blanket covering the hills was as white as winter snow.
Other Ways to Say: Snowy pale / Winter white
16. Like a shivering sparrow
Description: This describes trembling and shaking uncontrollably because you forgot your jacket.
For Example: He stood by the bus stop shivering like a shivering sparrow in the morning frost. / She huddled under her sweater like a shivering sparrow.
Other Ways to Say: Trembling bird / Shaking hard
17. As cold as a dead fish
Meaning: This means a handshake or a touch that feels limp, wet, and freezing.
For Example: When he shook hands after coming inside from the snow, his grip was as cold as a dead fish. / The damp glove felt as cold as a dead fish.
Other Ways to Say: Chilly touch / Wet cold
18. Like a mountain peak covered in frost
Description: This describes an elevation or object capped with a layer of white ice.
For Example: The top of the shed roof sparkled in the sun like a mountain peak covered in frost. / His frosted breath rose up like a mountain peak covered in frost.
Other Ways to Say: Frosty peak / Ice cap
19. As crisp as an autumn morning
Meaning: This means a refreshing, cool, and clean type of chilly weather.
For Example: The air outside before school started was as crisp as an autumn morning. / Her apple snack tasted fresh and as crisp as an autumn morning.
Other Ways to Say: Refreshing chill / Cool air
20. Like a sheet of solid glass
Description: This describes a clear, slippery layer of black ice on a walkway.
For Example: The sidewalk after the overnight freeze shone like a sheet of solid glass. / The frozen puddle cracked like a sheet of solid glass under his boot.
Other Ways to Say: Glazed ice / Slick surface
21. As cold as a winter night
Meaning: This means a deep, drop in temperature after the sun goes down in December.
For Example: The air inside the uninsulated garage dropped as cold as a winter night. / Her fingers felt as cold as a winter night without mittens.
Other Ways to Say: Deep winter chill / Night cold
22. Like a freezing gust from the North Pole
Description: This describes an intense, sudden drop in temperature accompanied by harsh wind.
For Example: The wind whipped around the street corner like a freezing gust from the North Pole. / Opening the attic hatch let down air like a freezing gust from the North Pole.
Other Ways to Say: Polar draft / Northern chill
23. As bitter as winter frost
Meaning: This means a harsh, biting cold that stings your cheeks and nose.
For Example: The windchill outside the bus doors was as bitter as winter frost. / His complaint about the weather was as bitter as winter frost.
Other Ways to Say: Biting chill / Harsh frost
24. Like a cold steel blade
Description: This describes a sharp, piercing chill that cuts through thin clothing layers.
For Example: The wind sliced through his jacket like a cold steel blade on the walk home. / The metal door handle felt like a cold steel blade in his palm.
Other Ways to Say: Piercing chill / Sharp cold
25. As still as frozen water
Meaning: This means a liquid that has turned completely solid and motionless from cold.
For Example: The puddle in the driveway stayed as still as frozen water under the ice layer. / Her expression remained as still as frozen water during the spooky story.
Other Ways to Say: Solid calm / Frozen still
26. Like a snowman standing in a yard
Description: This describes standing outside in the cold for so long you feel stiff and frozen.
For Example: Waiting for the late bus made him feel like a snowman standing in a yard. / She stood shivering on the sidelines like a snowman standing in a yard.
Other Ways to Say: Stiff stand / Frozen figure
27. As cold as iron in the shade
Meaning: This means outdoor metal objects that hold onto the freezing outdoor temperature.
For Example: The playground slide metal was as cold as iron in the shade during recess. / His bicycle handlebars felt as cold as iron in the shade.
Other Ways to Say: Shaded metal / Cold iron
28. Like a winter storm brewing
Description: This describes an ominous, chilling drop in temperature before a snow shower.
For Example: The atmosphere outside dropped in temperature like a winter storm brewing. / The heavy grey sky felt chilling like a winter storm brewing.
Other Ways to Say: Stormy chill / Dropping temp
29. As pale as carved ivory
Meaning: This means skin turning light and colorless from a sudden freezing shiver.
For Example: Her face turned as pale as carved ivory when she stepped into the blizzard. / The marble statue in the courtyard looked as pale as carved ivory in the frost.
Other Ways to Say: Icy pale / Colorless skin
30. Like an unheated mountain cabin
Meaning: This describes a rustic, freezing room with no fireplace or heater running.
For Example: Walking into the abandoned clubhouse felt like an unheated mountain cabin in January. / The drafty porch room stayed as cold as an unheated mountain cabin.
Other Ways to Say: Freezing room / Drafty space
31. As cold as a glacier stream
Meaning: Direct snowmelt water that is teeth-chattering and freezing cold.
For Example: The mountain brook water she touched was as cold as a glacier stream. / His hands tingled after washing them in water as cold as a glacier stream.
Other Ways to Say: Icy water / Glacier chill
32. Like a breath of winter air
Description: This describes a quick, refreshing, and chilly puff of wind against your face.
For Example: Opening the classroom window let in a draft like a breath of winter air. / Her sigh produced fog like a breath of winter air.
Other Ways to Say: Chilly puff / Winter draft
33. As stiff as a frozen branch
Meaning: This means limbs or fingers that refuse to bend easily due to low temperatures.
For Example: After building snow forts without breaks, his fingers were as stiff as a frozen branch. / The old leather gloves felt as stiff as a frozen branch in the frost.
Other Ways to Say: Stiff fingers / Frozen wood
34. Like an ice cube melting in punch juice
Description: This describes a chilly object slowly warming up in a room temperature environment.
For Example: The snow clump in his warm mitten melted away like an ice cube melting in punch juice. / The frost on the windowpane dissolved like an ice cube melting in punch juice.
Other Ways to Say: Melting chill / Soft thaw
35. As cold as deep space
Meaning: This means a hyperbolic, extreme level of freezing emptiness.
For Example: He joked that his bedroom floor in the morning was as cold as deep space. / The freezer compartment felt as cold as deep space when he opened it.
Other Ways to Say: Extreme cold / Space chill
36. Like a winter blanket of white
Description: This describes thick frost or snow covering every surface outdoors.
For Example: The morning frost covered the lawn like a winter blanket of white. / The rooftop sat coated like a winter blanket of white.
Other Ways to Say: Frosty cover / Snow blanket
37. As sharp as winter hail
Meaning: This means a stinging, cold precipitation hitting your face in a storm.
For Example: The sleet blowing across the playground hit his cheeks as sharp as winter hail. / The cold wind felt as sharp as winter hail.
Other Ways to Say: Stinging sleet / Sharp chill
38. Like a frozen statue in the park
Description: This describes standing completely motionless because you are trying to stay warm.
For Example: He stood waiting for his turn at bat, shivering like a frozen statue in the park. / She posed for the winter picture, holding still like a frozen statue in the park.
Other Ways to Say: Motionless chill / Frozen pose
39. As dormant as a seed in winter soil
Meaning: This means feeling slow, sluggish, and slowed down by cold weather.
For Example: Early in the morning before the heater kicked on, his energy was as dormant as a seed in winter soil. / The classroom felt as dormant as a seed in winter soil before recess.
Other Ways to Say: Slow energy / Winter rest
40. Like a chilling ghost story
Description: This describes an eerie, cold feeling that creeps up your spine on a chilly night.
For Example: Hearing the floorboards creak in the empty ski lodge felt like a chilling ghost story. / The spooky shadow made a shiver run down his spine like a chilling ghost story.
Other Ways to Say: Spooky chill / Eerie shiver
41. As cold as a winter dawn
Meaning: This means the crisp, freezing temperature just before the sun rises in January.
For Example: The air outside when the early alarm went off was as cold as a winter dawn. / His breath plumed in the air as cold as a winter dawn.
Other Ways to Say: Morning freeze / Early chill
42. Like a winter coat zipped to the chin
Description: This describes bundling up tightly to protect yourself from bitter weather.
For Example: He protected himself against the biting wind like a winter coat zipped to the chin. / She wrapped her scarf around her face like a winter coat zipped to the chin.
Other Ways to Say: Bundled tight / Protected chill
43. As harsh as a freezing drizzle
Meaning: This means wet, miserable, cold weather that chills you instantly.
For Example: The rain turning to sleet on the way home felt as harsh as a freezing drizzle. / His mood matched the weather, which was as harsh as a freezing drizzle.
Other Ways to Say: Freezing rain / Miserable chill
44. Like an icicle forming on a gutter
Description: This describes water freezing slowly and steadily as the temperature drops.
For Example: The puddle water iced over edge by edge like an icicle forming on a gutter. / His patience wore thin in the cold line like an icicle forming on a gutter.
Other Ways to Say: Slow freeze / Icing over
45. As cold as a winter cellar
Meaning: This means a dark, subterranean room that stays chilled year-round.
For Example: The root cellar under the farmhouse was as cold as a winter cellar even in spring. / The basement hallway felt as cold as a winter cellar.
Other Ways to Say: Subterranean chill / Cellar cold
46. Like a frozen river in December
Description: This describes water locked tight in ice with zero movement.
For Example: The sluggish stream stopped flowing, locking up like a frozen river in December. / His stiff fingers refused to type quickly, acting like a frozen river in December.
Other Ways to Say: Locked water / Frozen stream
47. As crisp as a fresh winter carrot root
Meaning: This means hard, solid, and cold produce stored in a root cellar.
For Example: The vegetables pulled straight from the cold soil cellar were as crisp as a fresh winter carrot root. / The cold celery stick snapped as crisp as a fresh winter carrot root.
Other Ways to Say: Cold crunch / Crisp bite
48. Like a winter wind howling through the trees
Description: This describes a loud, rushing cold draft roaring past outdoor obstacles.
For Example: The draft rushed down the chimney flue like a winter wind howling through the trees. / The sound outside the bedroom window was like a winter wind howling through the trees.
Other Ways to Say: Roaring draft / Howling chill
49. As cold as polar ice caps
Meaning: This means the ultimate, planetary scale of freezing cold water and ice.
For Example: He joked that his ice water cup was as cold as polar ice caps. / The northern sea breeze felt as cold as polar ice caps.
Other Ways to Say: Polar freeze / Ultimate chill
50. Like a chilled glass of lemonade
Description: This describes a refreshing, cool drink on a warm day, or a contrast to heat.
For Example: The metal cup felt cold on his fingers like a chilled glass of lemonade. / The refreshing breeze felt crisp like a chilled glass of lemonade after sports practice.
Other Ways to Say: Refreshing chill / Cool drink
51. As frosty as a snowman’s smile
Meaning: This means coated in white ice crystals with a playful winter look.
For Example: Her eyelashes caught morning mist and looked as frosty as a snowman’s smile. / The decorative lawn ornament was as frosty as a snowman’s smile.
Other Ways to Say: Icy white / Frosty smile
52. Like a cold shower in the morning
Description: This describes a shocking, sudden blast of freezing water or cold air.
For Example: Stepping out of bed onto the uncarpeted hardwood floor felt like a cold shower in the morning. / The sudden weather drop hit the city like a cold shower in the morning.
Other Ways to Say: Shocking chill / Sudden wakeup
53. As still as a frozen lake
Meaning: This means an icy body of water with no ripples or movement.
For Example: The surface of the skating pond remained as still as a frozen lake under the moonlight. / The class grew as still as a frozen lake when the teacher walked in.
Other Ways to Say: Icy stillness / Frozen calm
54. Like a winter shadow lengthening on snow
Description: This describes a cold, dark shape stretching across a white landscape.
For Example: The fence post shadow fell across the yard like a winter shadow lengthening on snow. / The evening chill spread like a winter shadow lengthening on snow.
Other Ways to Say: Cold shadow / Snow shade
55. As sharp as frostbitten air
Meaning: This means air so cold it feels like little needles on your skin.
For Example: The early morning breeze outside the cabin door was as sharp as frostbitten air. / His breathing hurt slightly because the air was as sharp as frostbitten air.
Other Ways to Say: Needle chill / Sharp frost
56. Like an ice cube sliding down your back
Description: This describes a sudden, startling trickle of cold water or a chilly draft.
For Example: A drop of melting snow fell from the roof collar like an ice cube sliding down your back. / The sudden draft hit his collar like an ice cube sliding down your back.
Other Ways to Say: Startling chill / Cold trickle
57. As cold as a winter ghost
Meaning: This means a spooky, pale chill associated with freezing indoor air.
For Example: The empty bedroom upstairs felt as cold as a winter ghost. / His fingers brushed the cold window glass, feeling as cold as a winter ghost.
Other Ways to Say: Spooky chill / Ghostly cold
58. Like a freezing rain coating the trees
Description: This describes sleet or freezing moisture hardening onto outdoor branches.
For Example: The ice storm glazed the power lines and branches like a freezing rain coating the trees. / The glaze on the windshield hardened like a freezing rain coating the trees.
Other Ways to Say: Ice glaze / Freezing coat
59. As numb as winter stone
Meaning: This means losing all feeling in your hands from lack of gloves in the cold.
For Example: He couldn’t tie his shoelaces because his fingers were as numb as winter stone. / Her feet felt as numb as winter stone inside her frozen boots.
Other Ways to Say: Stone numb / Frozen fingers
60. Like a final breath of winter
Description: This describes a lingering, cold gust of wind on the first day of spring.
For Example: A sudden chilly breeze swept across the sunny playground like a final breath of winter. / The morning frost lingered like a final breath of winter.
Other Ways to Say: Lingering chill / Last frost
Exercise to Practice
- When he stepped outside in January without gloves, his fingers felt ________.
- His nose felt sharp and frozen ________ after playing in the snow.
- The blast of air when the door opened was ________.
- After skating on the outdoor pond for an hour, his toes felt like ________.
- The basement storage room during the winter months was ________.
- He loved playing outside in the blizzard without a heavy coat ________.
- The grass across the lawn looked white and ________.
- Leaving the back door open let the chilling breeze sweep through the house like ________.
- Her greeting when he arrived late to study group was ________.
- The surface of the backyard birdbath looked solid ________.
- After tossing snowballs without gloves, his hands were ________.
- The draft rushing down the empty school hallway blew ________.
- The bench in the shade of the park was ________ in autumn.
- Walking into the walk-in dairy cooler at the grocery store felt like ________.
- When the cold wind hit his face, his skin turned ________.
Answer Key
- as cold as ice
- like a winter icicle
- as freezing as an arctic wind
- a block of frozen marble
- as cold as a well digger’s knees
- like a polar bear in snow
- as frosty as a morning windowpane
- a refrigerator left wide open
- as cold as charity
- like a frozen pond in January
- as numb as a frozen fish
- like a winter gale sweeping the plains
- as cold as a stone
- an open freezer door
- as white as winter snow
Conclusion
Learning these fun similes helps you describe cold weather and freezing temperatures in much more creative ways. Instead of using plain words, you can paint a vivid picture in your reader’s mind.
Try using some of these expressions the next time you talk about a snow day or share a cozy winter story with your friends. You will sound like a true vocabulary expert and make your writing much more fun to read!
