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

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

Then in January 2018, the eastern United States plunged into another deep freeze while the West remained stubbornly warm and dry.

From Los Angeles Times