die Eiseskälte
icy cold
Exceptionally intense, icy cold.
EXAMPLE
Wegen der Eiseskälte blieben die Menschen heute lieber zu Hause.
Because of the icy cold, people preferred to stay at home today.
die Eiseskälte
icy cold
die Eiseskälte
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Meanings
die Eiseskälte
icy aloofness
An extremely cool, emotionally detached, or dismissive attitude toward other people.
EXAMPLE
Die Eiseskälte seiner Antwort verletzte sie zutiefst.
The icy aloofness of his response hurt her deeply.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Eiseskälte, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| genitive | der Eiseskälte |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Eiseskälte | – |
| accusative | die Eiseskälte | – |
| dative | der Eiseskälte | – |
| genitive | der Eiseskälte | – |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Eiseskälte' (icy cold) combines the idea of ice with 'Kälte' (cold). This intensifies the idea of especially intense, biting cold and can also be used figuratively.
EXAMPLE
In der Eiseskälte froren selbst die gut isolierten Wasserleitungen ein.
In the icy cold, even the well-insulated water pipes froze.
Typical collocations
For the literal meaning, prepositions such as 'bei' (in/with) or 'in' (in) often come before 'Eiseskälte' (icy cold). Verbs such as 'herrschen' (to prevail), 'spüren' (to feel), and 'aushalten' (to endure) are also often used with it.
EXAMPLE
Bei der Eiseskälte wollte niemand lange draußen warten.
In the icy cold, nobody wanted to wait outside for long.
Figurative context
When 'Eiseskälte' (icy cold) refers to a person, a response, or an atmosphere, it usually does not mean a temperature. Words such as 'Antwort' (response), 'Blick' (look), 'Begegnung' (encounter), or 'Behandlung' (treatment) point to the figurative meaning.
EXAMPLE
Sie begegnete der Kritik mit Eiseskälte und zeigte keinerlei Reaktion.
She met the criticism with icy aloofness and showed no reaction at all.
In real life
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