on ice

1. In reserve or readiness. This idiom often occurs with put , meaning “to place in reserve,” as in Let's put that proposal on ice until we have the funds to implement it . This usage alludes to putting things in cold storage for preservation. [ Slang ; late 1800s]

2. In prison, as in He's been on ice for ten years . This usage may be derived in part from the slang term cooler for “jail.” [ Slang ; c. 1930]

3. With a good chance of success, as in I'm sure she'll win—it's on ice . [ Slang ; early 1900s]

Example Sentences

"People called him Milders, a milder version of himself," says Prof Rooduijn, who points out that Wilders then put on ice many of his anti-Islam policies to appear more palatable.

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With Russia making it clear that it wasn't anything like as ready as the US president had hoped to end the fighting - vowing instead to advance on even more territory - the planned summit was put on ice.

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The study focused on Ice Age bones from the Reis collection, housed at the Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen, which continue to reveal remarkable insights into Europe's dynamic prehistoric world.

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“Portland and Chicago have seen violent protests outside of federal buildings, attacks on ICE and DHS agents, and organized efforts to block the enforcement of immigration law,” said UC Berkeley law professor John Yoo.

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Newsom signed CTA-backed bills that placed strict limits on ICE agents’ access to school grounds.

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Related Words

• decisive 
• dogged 
• purposeful 
• resolute 
• resolved 
• serious 
• single-minded 
• steadfast 
• strong-willed 
• stubborn 
• tenacious