Definition

1. Noun:
   • A state of sweating accompanied by a feeling of coldness or chill: "cold sweat" refers to the physical condition where a person perspires while simultaneously experiencing chills or a cold sensation on the skin. This reaction is typically associated with intense fear, anxiety, illness, or shock.

Usage

• Noun:
  • The phrase "cold sweat" is typically used as a singular noun, often preceded by "a" or "the." It describes a specific, acute physical state.
  • It is commonly used in contexts describing sudden fear, nervousness, or physical distress.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The nightmare was so terrifying it woke him up in a cold sweat.
  • She broke out in a cold sweat when she heard the unexpected news.
  • The patient was covered in a cold sweat, a symptom of the fever.

Advanced Usage

• "to break out in a cold sweat": This is the most common collocation, meaning to suddenly start sweating due to fear, anxiety, or illness.
  • He breaks out in a cold sweat every time he has to give a speech.
• "to be in a cold sweat": Describes the ongoing state of experiencing a cold sweat.
  • She was in a cold sweat for hours after the accident.

Variants and Related Words

• Sweat (n/v): Moisture exuded through the pores of the skin, typically as a response to heat, physical exertion, or stress.
• Perspiration (n): A more formal term for sweat.
• Chill (n): A feeling of coldness, often causing shivering.

Synonyms

• Fear-induced perspiration: A descriptive synonym emphasizing the cause.
• Nervous sweat: Similar but less specific to the sensation of coldness.

Related Phrases

• Cold feet (idiom): Loss of nerve or confidence, especially just before a significant event. (Note: This is a different idiom related to fear but does not involve physical sweat).
• Break out in a sweat: A more general phrase that can, in context, imply a cold sweat if fear or chill is mentioned.

Notes

• "Cold sweat" is a fixed noun phrase. The adjectives "cold" and "sweat" are not typically separated or used in a comparative form (e.g., "colder sweat" is uncommon).
• It is primarily a physical description but is overwhelmingly used in metaphorical or psychological contexts to signify extreme fear or anxiety.

Noun

1. the physical condition of concurrent perspiration and chill; associated with fear