cold as death
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
The night was growing colder, and there was a small sharp wind stirring from the east. But hot or cold, it was all one to him, who was already cold as death.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “cold as death” mean?
Very cold.
Is “cold as death” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.