on ice
Idioms-
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]
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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]
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With a good chance of success, as in I'm sure she'll win—it's on ice . [ Slang ; early 1900s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But for a young athlete growing up in Canada, where the most-popular sports take place on ice, it was a deal-breaker.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
A planned role as King Herod in a production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” was put on ice.
From Salon ● Aug. 6, 2026
Apple has plans to release its own competitor wearable, although the rollout is being put on ice given the controversy around Meta’s glasses.
From Slate ● Aug. 5, 2026
One of his old bosses, Alistair Darling, the chancellor during the financial crisis, once memorably told me with affection, but in frustration, "Andy? He's like a lorry on ice", because his thinking swerved around.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
The human life is all one thing, like a blade tracing loops on ice: a little kid, a twenty-three-year- old infantry sergeant, a middle-aged writer knowing guilt and sorrow.
From "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
