Cold is a chilly feeling that happens when the temperature drops or when winter winds blow all around us. Similes are fun word tools that compare two different things using the words like or as to create a clear picture in your mind. By using these colorful expressions, you can make your writing and speaking much more interesting to others. Today, you will learn many helpful similes related to feeling cold and shivering in the snow.
In this lesson, we’ll look at similes that mean feeling frozen or very chilly. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Similes for Being Cold
1. As cold as ice
Meaning: This means being completely frozen and freezing to the touch.
For Example: His hands were as cold as ice after he played in the snow without gloves. / The glass of water from the fridge was as cold as ice.
Other Ways to Say: As chilly as frost / As freezing as a glacier
2. Like a block of ice
Meaning: This means sitting or standing completely stiff and frozen from the low temperature.
For Example: After falling into the shallow creek, he stood shivering like a block of ice. / The leftover milk in the lunchbox felt like a block of ice.
Other Ways to Say: Like a frozen statue / Like solid frost
3. As cold as a winter wind
Meaning: This means having a sharp, biting chill that goes right through your jacket.
For Example: The morning air was as cold as a winter wind when we walked to school. / Her breath felt as cold as a winter wind in the open yard.
Other Ways to Say: As brisk as a gale / As sharp as a blast
4. Like an icicle hanging from a roof
Meaning: This means feeling rigid, frozen, and completely chilled straight through.
For Example: His fingers felt like an icicle hanging from a roof during the football game. / She sat on the cold bench frozen like an icicle hanging from a roof.
Other Ways to Say: Like a frozen twig / Like hard frost
5. As cold as a well digger’s boots
Meaning: This means having freezing cold feet from working outside in the cold mud.
For Example: My toes were as cold as a well digger’s boots after walking through the slush. / He came inside with his socks as cold as a well digger’s boots.
Other Ways to Say: As chilly as frozen ground / As numb as winter soil
6. Like a polar bear in snow
Meaning: This means being completely adapted to and surrounded by freezing weather.
For Example: He loved playing outdoors in the blizzard like a polar bear in snow. / She ran across the frosty field like a polar bear in snow.
Other Ways to Say: Like a creature of the frost / Like a winter wolf
7. As cold as charity
Meaning: This means feeling an unwelcoming, chilly, and uncomfortably cold sensation.
For Example: The old stone room felt as cold as charity on a rainy morning. / His greeting was as cold as charity when I walked in.
Other Ways to Say: As bleak as a vault / As bare as a stone
8. Like a fish in frozen water
Meaning: This means being trapped in an environment that is shockingly cold.
For Example: Jumping into the unheated pool felt like a fish in frozen water. / His wet shoes made his feet feel like a fish in frozen water.
Other Ways to Say: Like a creature in ice / Like a cold swim
9. As cold as a stone
Meaning: This means having a temperature that is completely devoid of any warmth.
For Example: The metal bench in the park was as cold as a stone. / Her fingers turned as cold as a stone while waiting for the bus.
Other Ways to Say: As chilly as a rock / As dead as gravel
10. Like a frozen pond
Meaning: This means having a smooth, hard surface that is completely chilled through.
For Example: The frozen puddle cracked under his boot like a frozen pond. / The air in the unheated garage felt like a frozen pond.
Other Ways to Say: Like glassy ice / Like a winter lake
11. As cold as a corpse
Meaning: This means being chillingly devoid of any body heat or warmth.
For Example: His wet jacket made his back feel as cold as a corpse. / The old basement floor was as cold as a corpse in winter.
Other Ways to Say: As chill as death / As lifeless as ice
12. Like a penguin on an iceberg
Meaning: This means standing out in the freezing cold without complaining.
For Example: He stood waiting for the school bus like a penguin on an iceberg. / She watched the winter parade like a penguin on an iceberg.
Other Ways to Say: Like a bird in a snowdrift / Like a seal on floes
13. As cold as a marble slab
Meaning: This means feeling a heavy, smooth chill that lacks any natural warmth.
For Example: The kitchen counter felt as cold as a marble slab in the morning. / His skin felt as cold as a marble slab after the snow fight.
Other Ways to Say: As chilled as stone / As frosty as granite
14. Like an arctic blast
Meaning: This means experiencing a sudden wave of freezing air hitting you at once.
For Example: Opening the freezer door felt like an arctic blast hit his face. / When the front door blew open, an arctic blast swept through the hall.
Other Ways to Say: Like a polar wind / Like a northern gale
15. As cold as the North Pole
Meaning: This means being as freezing cold as the most distant, icy place on earth.
For Example: The water in the mountain stream was as cold as the North Pole. / His bedroom felt as cold as the North Pole when the heater broke.
Other Ways to Say: As freezing as the arctic / As chill as the tundra
16. Like a snowflake in the wind
Meaning: This means feeling light, chilly, and tossed about in a cold breeze.
For Example: His unprotected ears felt cold like a snowflake in the wind. / She shivered in the drafty room like a snowflake in the wind.
Other Ways to Say: Like frozen mist / Like sleet in a storm
17. As cold as winter steel
Meaning: This means having a metal-like chill that bites sharply at your skin.
For Example: The bicycle handlebars were as cold as winter steel in January. / His door handle felt as cold as winter steel.
Other Ways to Say: As freezing as iron / As chill as a blade
18. Like a snowman standing in a yard
Meaning: This means standing stiff and cold in the middle of freezing weather.
For Example: He waited by the gate, stiff like a snowman standing in a yard. / She stood still in the snowstorm like a snowman standing in a yard.
Other Ways to Say: Like a frozen figure / Like an icy monument
19. As cold as mountain snow
Meaning: This means having the crisp, biting chill found high up on a snowy peak.
For Example: The morning breeze was as cold as mountain snow. / Her lemonade had ice cubes as cold as mountain snow.
Other Ways to Say: As fresh as a drift / As cool as a peak
20. Like a shivering leaf in a freeze
Meaning: This means shaking uncontrollably because the temperature is so low.
For Example: Without his heavy jacket, he shook like a shivering leaf in a freeze. / She shivered on the sidelines like a shivering leaf in a freeze.
Other Ways to Say: Like a trembling branch / Like shaking glass
21. As cold as a refrigerator drawer
Meaning: This means feeling a steady, artificial chill that cools everything around it.
For Example: The basement storage room was as cold as a refrigerator drawer. / His lunch bag felt as cold as a refrigerator drawer.
Other Ways to Say: As chilly as a cooler / As frosty as a fridge
22. Like a frozen waterfall
Meaning: This means looking and feeling completely locked in place by winter ice.
For Example: The icicles on the porch rail hung like a frozen waterfall. / His breath hung in the frosty air like a frozen waterfall of mist.
Other Ways to Say: Like crystal rivers / Like stopped water
23. As cold as iron in January
Meaning: This means feeling the deep, biting chill of midwinter metal objects.
For Example: The playground slide was as cold as iron in January. / His car keys felt as cold as iron in January.
Other Ways to Say: As freezing as a gate / As chill as a latch
24. Like a winter wolf in the snow
Meaning: This means thriving or braving the coldest parts of the season without fear.
For Example: He trudged through the deep drift like a winter wolf in the snow. / She explored the woods in December like a winter wolf in the snow.
Other Ways to Say: Like a wild tracker / Like a frost beast
25. As cold as a vault floor
Meaning: This means having a damp, heavy chill that never feels the warmth of the sun.
For Example: The cellar floor was as cold as a vault floor. / His bare feet on the tiles felt as cold as a vault floor.
Other Ways to Say: As chilly as a crypt / As frozen as a tomb
26. Like a glass of iced water
Meaning: This means having a sharp, refreshing, and very chilly temperature.
For Example: The morning air felt like a glass of iced water on his face. / Swimming in the lake in May felt like a glass of iced water.
Other Ways to Say: Like a chilly gulp / Like frosty liquid
27. As cold as an unlit stove
Meaning: This means lacking any source of heat and feeling completely frigid.
For Example: The old cabin interior was as cold as an unlit stove. / His coffee mug felt as cold as an unlit stove.
Other Ways to Say: As dead as ashes / As chilly as an oven
28. Like a winter gale howling past
Meaning: This means feeling the fierce, rushing chill of a freezing storm wind.
For Example: The draft through the window felt like a winter gale howling past. / His exposed ears burned like a winter gale howling past.
Other Ways to Say: Like a polar storm / Like a freezing gust
29. As cold as a frozen turnip
Meaning: This means being hard, stiff, and thoroughly chilled from the garden ground.
For Example: His fingers felt as cold as a frozen turnip after building a snow fort. / The vegetables left outside were as cold as a frozen turnip.
Other Ways to Say: As hard as frozen roots / As chilled as a bulb
30. Like an iceberg in the ocean
Meaning: This means carrying a massive, heavy amount of chill that is mostly hidden.
For Example: His quiet, chilly silence felt like an iceberg in the ocean. / The water in the deep end felt like an iceberg in the ocean.
Other Ways to Say: Like a floating glacier / Like massive ice
31. As cold as a winter morning
Meaning: This means having that crisp, freezing sharpness right when the sun comes up.
For Example: The classroom windows were as cold as a winter morning. / His attitude was as cold as a winter morning.
Other Ways to Say: As crisp as dawn / As chill as sunrise
32. Like a frozen carrot
Meaning: This means being stiff, rigid, and ice-cold to the touch.
For Example: His frozen fingers felt like a frozen carrot in the snow. / The ground was hard like a frozen carrot.
Other Ways to Say: As stiff as a root / Like hard produce
33. As cold as a brass door knob
Meaning: This means having a metallic chill that shocks your hand when you grab it.
For Example: The front gate handle was as cold as a brass door knob. / His fingers felt as cold as a brass door knob.
Other Ways to Say: As freezing as metal / As chill as a handle
34. Like a flurry of sleet
Meaning: This means feeling sharp, icy bits of chill stinging your face outside.
For Example: The stinging wind felt like a flurry of sleet against his cheeks. / Walking through the storm felt like a flurry of sleet.
Other Ways to Say: Like frozen needles / Like ice pellets
35. As cold as a cellar wall
Meaning: This means having a damp, stone-cold chill that never warms up.
For Example: The back wall of the basement was as cold as a cellar wall. / His soda can felt as cold as a cellar wall.
Other Ways to Say: As chilly as a basement / As damp as a cave
36. Like a frozen pane of glass
Meaning: This means feeling smooth, crisp, and freezing cold on the surface.
For Example: The car windshield felt like a frozen pane of glass in the dawn. / His skin felt tight like a frozen pane of glass.
Other Ways to Say: Like crystal sheets / Like window frost
37. As cold as a winter sea
Meaning: This means having a deep, powerful chill that can freeze you instantly.
For Example: The ocean water in December was as cold as a winter sea. / His stare was as cold as a winter sea.
Other Ways to Say: As freezing as high tides / As chill as the deep
38. Like a frost on the pumpkin
Meaning: This means experiencing the sudden, crisp chill of an early autumn freeze.
For Example: The morning grass sparkled like a frost on the pumpkin. / His breath showed in the air like a frost on the pumpkin.
Other Ways to Say: Like a autumn chill / Like morning rime
39. As cold as a metal spoon
Meaning: This means having a small, sharp metallic chill that cools your mouth or hand.
For Example: The ice cream scoop was as cold as a metal spoon. / His fingers felt as cold as a metal spoon.
Other Ways to Say: As freezing as silver / As chill as cutlery
40. Like an Eskimo igloo interior
Meaning: This means experiencing a unique environment built entirely around snow and ice.
For Example: The unheated playhouse felt like an Eskimo igloo interior. / His snow fort felt like an Eskimo igloo interior.
Other Ways to Say: Like a dome of ice / Like a snow house
41. As cold as a frozen fish
Meaning: This means being completely numb, stiff, and cold all over.
For Example: His wet gloves made his hands as cold as a frozen fish. / The trout from the cooler was as cold as a frozen fish.
Other Ways to Say: As chilled as a catch / As numb as scales
42. Like a winter blast down a chimney
Meaning: This means feeling a sudden, rushing draft of freezing outdoor air.
For Example: Opening the attic hatch felt like a winter blast down a chimney. / The gust of wind rushed through the door like a winter blast down a chimney.
Other Ways to Say: Like a flue draft / Like a rushing chill
43. As cold as an unheated church
Meaning: This means standing in a large, empty room that holds no indoor warmth.
For Example: The old gymnasium felt as cold as an unheated church in January. / His bedroom without a blanket felt as cold as an unheated church.
Other Ways to Say: As chilly as a hall / As bare as a chapel
44. Like a frozen drop of rain
Meaning: This means feeling a tiny, piercing drop of icy chill on your skin.
For Example: The sleet hit his forehead like a frozen drop of rain. / His teardrop felt cold like a frozen drop of rain in the wind.
Other Ways to Say: Like a sleet bead / Like an ice crystal
45. As cold as a winter moon
Meaning: This means having a distant, silvery, and frosty sort of chill.
For Example: The night air glowed and felt as cold as a winter moon. / Her expression was as cold as a winter moon.
Other Ways to Say: As frosty as starlight / As chill as night sky
46. Like a snow leopard on a peak
Meaning: This means moving comfortably through high, freezing mountain altitudes.
For Example: He climbed the snowy hill like a snow leopard on a peak. / She scaled the snowbank like a snow leopard on a peak.
Other Ways to Say: Like a high-altitude cat / Like a frost hunter
47. As cold as a frozen pipe
Meaning: This means having a hard, metallic chill that risks bursting from low temperatures.
For Example: The outdoor faucet was as cold as a frozen pipe. / His hands felt as cold as a frozen pipe after sledding.
Other Ways to Say: As chilled as plumbing / As frozen as metal tubes
48. Like a winter frost on grass
Meaning: This means having a delicate, white, freezing layer covering a surface.
For Example: The football field sparkled like a winter frost on grass. / His car roof was coated white like a winter frost on grass.
Other Ways to Say: Like morning white / Like rime on a lawn
49. As cold as an empty vault
Meaning: This means having a deep, hollow chill that echoes with freezing air.
For Example: The abandoned warehouse felt as cold as an empty vault. / His lunchbox felt as cold as an empty vault.
Other Ways to Say: As chilly as a tomb / As dead as a crypt
50. Like a frozen puddle cracking
Meaning: This means feeling a sharp, crisp snap of extreme cold underfoot.
For Example: Walking across the yard felt like a frozen puddle cracking. / The crust of ice crunched like a frozen puddle cracking.
Other Ways to Say: Like snapping ice / Like a frosty crust
51. As cold as a winter storm
Meaning: This means carrying the full, fierce freezing power of a December blizzard.
For Example: The wind coming off the lake was as cold as a winter storm. / His demeanor was as cold as a winter storm.
Other Ways to Say: As freezing as a gale / As chill as a blizzard
52. Like a block of frozen marzipan
Meaning: This means being stiff, solid, and thoroughly chilled through in storage.
For Example: The clay left outside in December felt like a block of frozen marzipan. / His frozen snack bar felt like a block of frozen marzipan.
Other Ways to Say: As hard as frozen dough / Like chilled clay
53. As cold as a sheet of tin
Meaning: This means having a thin, metallic chill that instantly cools your fingers.
For Example: The roof panel was as cold as a sheet of tin in the snow. / His metal lunch tin felt as cold as a sheet of tin.
Other Ways to Say: As freezing as foil / As chill as metal sheets
54. Like a whiteout in a blizzard
Meaning: This means being completely surrounded by blinding, freezing white snow.
For Example: Walking through the heavy snow squall felt like a whiteout in a blizzard. / His glasses fogged over like a whiteout in a blizzard.
Other Ways to Say: Like a snowstorm blindness / Like a winter blur
55. As cold as a winter night
Meaning: This means having the deep, biting freeze that arrives after the sun goes down.
For Example: The water in the bucket was as cold as a winter night. / His hands were as cold as a winter night after the snowball fight.
Other Ways to Say: As chilly as midnight / As dark and cold
56. Like a frozen gear in a machine
Meaning: This means being completely stuck, stiff, and unable to move from the cold.
For Example: The bicycle pedal felt like a frozen gear in a machine during the frost. / His stiff fingers worked like a frozen gear in a machine.
Other Ways to Say: Like a stuck valve / Like frozen wheels
57. As cold as a mountain spring
Meaning: This means having the refreshing, icy chill of water melting off high peaks.
For Example: The drinking fountain water was as cold as a mountain spring. / Her refreshing drink was as cold as a mountain spring.
Other Ways to Say: As chilly as a brook / As crisp as a stream
58. Like a winter branch in the wind
Meaning: This means standing bare, rigid, and chilled in a freezing gust.
For Example: He stood shivering on the porch like a winter branch in the wind. / Her arms shook like a winter branch in the wind without a coat.
Other Ways to Say: Like a bare twig / Like shaking wood
59. As cold as a frozen potato
Meaning: This means being hard, solid, and thoroughly chilled from sitting in the cold cellar.
For Example: His hands felt as cold as a frozen potato after throwing snowballs. / The root vegetables were as cold as a frozen potato.
Other Ways to Say: As hard as frozen tubers / As chilled as roots
60. Like an avalanche of snow
Meaning: This means feeling a massive, overwhelming wave of freezing cold sweep over you.
For Example: When the snow slid off the roof, it felt like an avalanche of snow hit him. / Opening the walk-in freezer felt like an avalanche of snow.
Other Ways to Say: Like a falling drift / Like a snow slide
Exercise to Practice
- His hands were as cold as ice after he played in the snow without gloves.
- After falling into the shallow creek, he stood shivering like a block of ice.
- The morning air was as cold as a winter wind when we walked to school.
- His fingers felt like an icicle hanging from a roof during the football game.
- My toes were as cold as a well digger’s boots after walking through the slush.
- The metal bench in the park was as cold as a stone.
- Opening the freezer door felt like an arctic blast hit his face.
- Without his heavy jacket, he shook like a shivering leaf in a freeze.
- The playground slide was as cold as iron in January.
- The water in the mountain stream was as cold as the North Pole.
- The front gate handle was as cold as a brass door knob.
- The football field sparkled like a winter frost on grass.
- His hands were as cold as a winter night after the snowball fight.
- The drinking fountain water was as cold as a mountain spring.
- His hands felt as cold as a frozen potato after throwing snowballs.
Answer Key
- as cold as ice
- like a block of ice
- as cold as a winter wind
- like an icicle hanging from a roof
- as well digger’s boots
- as cold as a stone
- like an arctic blast
- like a shivering leaf in a freeze
- as cold as iron in january
- as cold as the north pole
- as cold as a brass door knob
- like a winter frost on grass
- as cold as a winter night
- as cold as a mountain spring
- as cold as a frozen potato
Conclusion
Learning similes helps you describe everyday feelings and situations in colorful, creative ways. By adding these comparisons to your vocabulary, you can express yourself much more clearly to your friends and teachers. Try using one or two of these fun similes the next time you are shivering outside or writing a story about winter. You will see how much fun it is to paint pictures with your words in real life.
