Meaning of on ice | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Not being used; temporarily unavailable or suspended; on hold.
   idiomatic
2. Dead, especially from murder or other nefarious means.
   idiomatic, slang
3. Of an entertainment normally performed on a stage: performed by ice skaters as an ice show.
4. Of a sporting or other contest: in a state of assured victory for the leading contestant.
5. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see on, ice.

Equivalents

Examples

“We're putting the new software features on ice until we can fix the existing bugs.”

“Shortly after taking to the ice, the bear broke loose from its leash and went barreling, spinning, slipping, and sliding all around the rink before he was finally restrained and sedated. Needless to say, that act was put on ice.”

“The agency's dry dock project was on ice. Begun as a routine construction job, the project was now also an archaeological site and, ominously, a resting place for an unknown number of human remains.”

“He [Jacques Parizeau] told the press: "We're not saying never, but that project is on ice for quite a while"[…].”

“But after a public consultation, the three closures were put on ice and the reductions in opening hours revised at many stations [...].”

“Boss says there's a mole in our organization. Find him and put him on ice.”

“We went to see Cinderella on ice.”

“Celebs flocked to the House of Mouse on ice this weekend! Many celeb parents including Christina Aguilera, Armie Hammer, Mila Kunis, Jordana Brewster, Vanessa Lachey and more brought their kids and slid on over to the Staples Center in Los Angeles over the weekend to attend Disney On Ice: Follow Your Heart at Staples Center.”

“Near-synonym: in the bag”

“[Frederick] Bohen later reflected that "when she [[Millicent] Fenwick] came out against the pardon as strongly as she did, I think that put the election on ice.”

“With [Tug] McGraw on the mound against a left-handed batter, this time Ed Ott, and the bases again loaded, Ott put the game on ice by belting another grand slam off the beleaguered pitcher.”

“Going to the wine cellar, she said: "I will put three bottles of Tokay wine on ice.[…]"”

CEFR level