freeze (redirected from freezing)

be cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey (British, very informal!)

brass monkey weather - extremely cold weather. We were in Moscow, and it was cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.

See also: ball, brass, cold, enough, monkey

until hell freezes over (informal)

if you say that someone can do something until hell freezes over, you mean they will not get the result they want. They can talk until hell freezes over - they won't make me change my mind.

See also: hell, over, until

when hell freezes over

if you say that something will happen when hell freezes over, you mean that it will never happen. Taxes will be abolished when hell freezes over.

See also: hell, over

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freeze out someone/something

to prevent someone or something from being involved in an activity. The company tried to freeze out its competition by buying up all the gas stations in the area.

Usage notes: usually said about an unfair way of preventing involvement

until hell freezes over

forever. I will fight for these children till hell freezes over.

Usage notes: also used in the form when hell freezes over never: They said they would get back together when hell freezes over.

Etymology: based on the idea that hell (= a very hot place where people are punished forever) can never freeze

See also: hell, over, until