Etymology Journal · C
Cold enough for ya?
Meaning
- A classic, cliché conversation starter used when two people are enduring freezing weather together. It is rarely asked for information and usually just to break the silence.
Friendly, repetitive
Used in a sentence
- I walked outside and the neighbor immediately said, cold enough for ya?
- It is ten below zero and my boss asked me, cold enough for ya?
- You have to say cold enough for ya when it's this chilly outside.
The backstory
This is the quintessential Midwestern small-talk staple. It has been the go-to line for neighbors shoveling driveways since at least the early 1900s.
Heard in
Midwest
Vibe check