freeze (redirected from frozen out)

freeze (on)to something

[for something] to touch something very cold and freeze hard and fast to it. My hand froze to the railing. The branch froze onto the side of the house.

freeze someone or something in one's memory

Fig. to preserve the image of someone or something in one's memory. I tried to freeze her in my memory so I would have her with me always. I froze the scene in my memory.

See also: memory

freeze someone or something to death 

1. Lit. [for cold weather] to kill someone or something. I was afraid that the cold snap would freeze the dog to death.

2. Fig. to make someone or something very cold. This weather is going to freeze us all to death.

See also: death

freeze someone's wages

Fig. to hold someone's pay at its current level. The company froze everyone's wages as soon as the economy went sour.

See also: wage

freeze someone out 

1. Lit. to make it too cold for someone, usually by opening windows or through the use of air-conditioning. Turn up the heat unless you're trying to freeze us out. Are you trying to freeze out everybody? Close the door.

2. Fig. to lock someone out socially; to isolate someone from something or a group. We didn't want to freeze you out. You failed to pay your dues, however. They froze out the newcomers.

See also: out

freeze something into something 

1. to use cold to solidify something into a different state, usually water into ice. The extreme cold froze the water of the river into solid ice. The cold snap froze the water in the puddles into hard sheets of ice.

2. to use cold to solidify something into a particular shape. We froze the ice cream into the shape of a penguin. This ice tray will freeze water into little round balls of ice.

freeze on (doing something)

Fig. a policy that put a temporary end to something. The company put a freeze on hiring as soon as they took us over.

freeze one's tail off

Fig. Inf. to freeze; to get very cold. Don't stand out there in the cold wind! You'll freeze your tail off! It's as cold as a welldigger's nose today. I about froze my tail off walking to work.

See also: tail

freeze over

[for a body of water] to get cold and form a layer of ice on top. The pond froze over, so we went skating.

freeze up 

1. Lit. [for something] to freeze and stop functioning. The joint froze up and wouldn't move anymore.

2. Fig. [for someone] to become frightened and anxious, and be unable to move, speak, or continue with something. I froze up and couldn't say anything more.

See also: up

play freeze-out

to open windows and doors, or turn down a thermostat, making someone cold. Wow, it's cold in here! Who's playing freeze-out? Is someone trying to play freeze-out?

See also: play

put the chill on someone and put the freeze on someone

Sl. to ignore someone; to end social contact with someone. Max put the chill on the guys who threatened him. Max put the freeze on Lefty.

See also: chill, put

till hell freezes over

Inf. forever. (Use caution with hell.) That's all right, boss; I can wait till hell freezes over for your answer. I'll be here till hell freezes over.

See also: hell, till

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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, until

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freeze out somebody/something also freeze somebody/something out

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

See also: out

until hell freezes over also till 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, until