deep freeze

¹ American  

noun

1. a state or period of halted or suspended activity or progress.

   High interest rates created a deep freeze in housing construction.

2. suspended animation.

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idioms

1. put in / into the deep freeze, to stop or suspend the activity or progress of.

   A series of quarrels put their romance into the deep freeze.

deep-freeze ² American  

[deep-freez] / ˈdipˈfriz /

verb (used with object)

deep-freezed, deep-froze, deep-freezed, deep-frozen, deep-freezing

1. to quick-freeze (food).

2. to store in a frozen frozen state.

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Etymology

Origin of deep freeze¹

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45

Origin of deep-freeze²

An Americanism dating back to 1945–50; deep + freeze

Example Sentences

Consumers are furious about the rate increases, there’s a mounting risk of blackouts during heat waves or deep freezes—and the fixes are nearly impossible to implement quickly.

From The Wall Street Journal

The housing market remains in a deep freeze, with many people finding it too expensive.

From MarketWatch

This time around the market is in a deep freeze — the market hasn’t gone bust, but it’s not moving.

From MarketWatch

The gradual increase in investor activity comes at a time when the housing market remains in a deep freeze.

From MarketWatch

S. ties is furthering a thaw in New Delhi’s relations with Beijing, which had been in the deep freeze since a 2020 border clash between the neighbors.

From The Wall Street Journal