eiskalt
ice-cold
Very cold, having a temperature close to freezing.
EXAMPLE
Das Wasser im Bergsee war selbst im Sommer eiskalt.
The water in the mountain lake was ice-cold even in summer.
eiskalt
ice-cold
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Meanings
eiskalt
ice-cold
In a figurative sense: completely without feeling, pity, or scruples; emotionless and calculating.
EXAMPLE
Er log ihr mit eiskalter Miene direkt ins Gesicht.
He lied straight to her face with an ice-cold expression.
jemanden eiskalt erwischen
to catch off guard
To hit or surprise someone completely unprepared.
EXAMPLE
Die Frage des Journalisten nach seinem Privatleben hat den Politiker eiskalt erwischt.
The journalist's question about his private life caught the politician completely off guard.
Usage tips
Word composition
'Eiskalt' (ice-cold) is a compound adjective made from 'Eis' (ice) and 'kalt' (cold). It literally means 'as cold as ice' and expresses a very high intensity of cold.
EXAMPLE
Im Winter wehte oft ein eiskalter Wind aus dem Osten.
In winter, an ice-cold wind often blew from the east.
Fixed expression
The expression 'jemanden eiskalt erwischen' means to catch someone completely unprepared. The structure is fixed and is often used in the passive ('eiskalt erwischt werden' — to be caught completely off guard).
EXAMPLE
Die Nachricht von der Schließung der Firma hat die Mitarbeiter eiskalt erwischt.
The news of the company's closure caught the employees completely off guard.
Typical collocations
In the figurative meaning 'emotionless', 'eiskalt' (ice-cold) often describes a person's actions, looks, or voice. Typical combinations are: 'ein eiskalter Blick' (an ice-cold look), 'eine eiskalte Berechnung' (ice-cold calculation), or 'jemanden eiskalt anlügen' (to lie to someone coldly).
EXAMPLE
Sie sah ihn mit eiskaltem Blick an und sagte nichts.
She looked at him with an ice-cold stare and said nothing.
Use as an adverb
'Eiskalt' (ice-cold) can also be used as an adverb to modify a verb. It then means something like 'completely', 'unscrupulously', or 'without hesitation'.
EXAMPLE
Er hat sie vor allen Leuten eiskalt ignoriert.
He coldly ignored her in front of everyone.
Compare with
eiskalt vs überrumpeln
to catch off guard
Both expressions describe a completely unexpected confrontation. Eiskalt is used in the fixed expression „jemanden eiskalt erwischen“ (to catch someone completely off guard), whereas überrumpeln is a verb in its own right and emphasizes the sudden confusion it causes, often giving the other person a possible advantage. Use the expression with eiskalt and otherwise usually use überrumpeln.
eiskalt
Die kurzfristige Frage des Prüfers erwischte ihn eiskalt.
The examiner’s last-minute question caught him completely off guard.
überrumpeln
Der Verkäufer überrumpelte ihn mit einer unerwarteten Zusatzfrage.
The salesperson caught him off guard with an unexpected follow-up question.
In real life
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