cold without
Definition
- Noun (colloquial, dated):
- A serving of undiluted liquor served without ice or water: "cold without" refers to a drink of straight spirits, typically whiskey or brandy, served at room temperature or chilled but not mixed with any mixer or ice. The phrase emphasizes the absence of additional liquids ("without" water or ice) and the temperature ("cold" meaning not heated).
Usage Examples
- (He requested straight whiskey with no ice or water.)
- (A plain spirit served without dilution.)
Advanced Usage
- Historical context: The phrase originates from 19th-century British slang, where "cold" referred to the drink being unheated (as opposed to a "hot toddy"), and "without" meant no added water. It contrasts with "cold with" (spirits with water) or "hot with" (spirits with hot water and sugar).
- The bartender knew that "cold without" meant a straight shot of brandy, no mixers. (A specific, old-fashioned drink order.)
Variants and Related Words
Cold with (n): spirits mixed with cold water.
- He preferred a cold with to dilute the strong taste. (Liquor with water added.)
Hot toddy (n): a heated alcoholic drink with water, sugar, and spices.
- She drank a hot toddy to warm up on a cold evening. (A warm, spiced spirit.)
Synonyms
Neat: liquor served without any mixers, ice, or water.
- He drinks his whiskey neat. (Undiluted.)
Straight up: liquor served without ice, often in a chilled glass.
- She ordered her vodka straight up. (Chilled but not on the rocks.)
Related Idioms
Without a chaser: drinking liquor without a subsequent drink to wash it down.
- He took the shot without a chaser. (Drank it straight.)
On the rocks: liquor served over ice (the opposite of "cold without").
- She prefers her gin on the rocks. (Served with ice cubes.)