Meaning of cut ice | Babel Free

Definitions

To have influence (on something, especially someone's opinion); to be accepted or tolerated (by).

usually

Examples

“Will that cut⟳ any ice with Moscow? No, they won't care.”

“It cuts no ice with a British copper to tell⟳ him you're an American citizen. 'It's British law and order⟳ over here,' says he.”

“Fowler, And let⟳ me say⟳ to you, honourable gentlemen, that, so far as I am concerned, the fact that a Bill was passed by the House of Commons does not, as is said vulgarly, cut⟳ any ice with me, because I have⟳ seen some of the rottenest legislation passed by the House of Commons. I say⟳, it does not cut⟳ any ice with me, and it should not influence⟳ you, honourable gentlemen.”

“It's a feeling of impotence: of cutting no ice. Here I sit⟳ at Richmond, & like⟳ a lantern stood in the middle of a field my light⟳ goes up in darkness.”

“But those who contend that 4hr from Newcastle to London is fast enough, and that a reduction of 5-10min will cut⟳ little ice but cost⟳ a lot, are being harder put⟳ to it to justify⟳ their case in face⟳ of the air rivalry and arguments that these days any travel⟳ medium must present⟳ an image of continuous advance.”

“Intriguing though such an argument may be to economists, it is unlikely to cut⟳ much ice with politicians.”

“One member of our Task Group worked on early drafts of the Standard. He recalls that the major challenge⟳ was to convince⟳ business leaders to take⟳ training seriously: 'We had to use⟳ language that cut⟳ ice with chief executives.'”

“The point⟳ is that the “tests" were usually made in the context of specific, everyday situations and lacked rhetoric which cut⟳ ice with the intellectuals.”

“... he had the oratorical delivery to match⟳, and that cut⟳ ice with the people in high places. George McCauley, the secretary of education, had invited Biren to lunch at the Royal Bengal Club. Never was there a more snobbish institution[…]”

“"The fact that I didn't believe⟳ she would do it wouldn't cut⟳ any ice with the Court. Nothing doing. I've had publicity enough over my domestic casualty to last⟳ the rest⟳ of my life."”

CEFR level