cold-snap

A sudden cold-snap turned the puddles into ice overnight.

Definition

Noun: A cold-snap is a sudden, brief period of extremely cold weather, often occurring unexpectedly during a season that is usually milder.

Usage Examples

• (A sudden cold period harmed the harvest.)
• (The unexpected cold weather caught us without proper clothing or heating.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be caught in a cold-snap": to be surprised by a sudden cold period.

  • The hikers were caught in a cold-snap and had to take shelter immediately. (They were unprepared for the abrupt drop in temperature.)

• "a cold-snap warning": an official alert about an approaching period of sudden cold weather.

  • The meteorological office issued a cold-snap warning for the northern regions. (An alert to prepare for a brief but intense cold spell.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cold snap (n): an alternative spelling (often written as two words) with the same meaning.

  • The cold snap lasted only three days but caused widespread power outages. (The sudden cold weather was short-lived but disruptive.)

• Snap cold (n): a less common variant meaning a sudden cold spell.

  • The snap cold in spring killed the blooming flowers. (The abrupt cold weather destroyed the blossoms.)

Synonyms

• Cold spell: a period of cold weather, though not necessarily sudden.
• Cold wave: a widespread and prolonged period of cold weather, often more severe than a cold-snap.
• Freeze: a period when temperatures drop below freezing, which may or may not be sudden.

Related Idioms

• "A snap decision": an idiom using "snap" to mean sudden or quick, but not directly related to cold weather.

  • She made a snap decision to buy the jacket. (She decided quickly, without much thought.)

• "Cold as a witch's kiss": an idiom describing extreme cold, but not specific to a cold-snap.

  • The morning was as cold as a witch's kiss after the cold-snap. (The temperature was bitterly cold.)