← Back to collection
Region: General | Usage example: He was stone cold sober after the surgery.

Stone cold

Meaning

Completely or absolutely.

Usage

Used for absolute confirmations.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Stone metal indicates unyielding or fully settled status.

Appears in 19th-century English literature describing cold stones.

Related Idioms

Get two birds with one stone

Achieve two things with one effort.

Give someone the cold shoulder

Ignore or snub someone intentionally.

Get cold feet

To become nervous or afraid just before doing something important.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.