How do you use "Cold snap" in a sentence?

Cold snap expected. We're in a cold snap. The cold snap continues. After the cold snap.

Cold snap

Q: What does "Cold snap" mean?

A sudden period of cold weather A cold snap describes a sharp, sudden drop in temperature—winter arriving without warning, or an unexpected freeze in spring or autumn. The 'snap' suggests both suddenness and a kind of breaking: snapping into cold, snapping out of mild weather. Cold snaps are newsworthy because they catch people unprepared, damage crops, strain heating systems, and disrupt daily life. Unlike a gradual seasonal cooling, a cold snap is an event.

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

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Meaning: A sudden period of cold weather

突然的寒冷期，骤冷

Un período repentino de tiempo frío, ola de frío

突然の寒冷期、急な冷え込み

갑작스러운 한파, 급격한 냉각기

A cold snap describes a sharp, sudden drop in temperature—winter arriving without warning, or an unexpected freeze in spring or autumn. The 'snap' suggests both suddenness and a kind of breaking: snapping into cold, snapping out of mild weather. Cold snaps are newsworthy because they catch people unprepared, damage crops, strain heating systems, and disrupt daily life. Unlike a gradual seasonal cooling, a cold snap is an event.

Cold snap描述的是气温突然急剧下降——冬天毫无预警地到来，或者春秋季节意外的冰冻。'Snap'这个词暗示了突然性和一种断裂：突然变冷，突然从温和天气中跳出。骤冷之所以成为新闻是因为它让人措手不及，损害农作物，给供暖系统带来压力，扰乱日常生活。与季节性的逐渐降温不同，cold snap是一个事件。

Un cold snap describe una caída brusca y repentina de la temperatura—el invierno llegando sin aviso, o una helada inesperada en primavera u otoño. 'Snap' sugiere tanto la repentinidad como una especie de ruptura: cambiar bruscamente al frío, salir bruscamente del tiempo templado. Las olas de frío son noticia porque pillan a la gente desprevenida, dañan las cosechas, sobrecargan los sistemas de calefacción y alteran la vida cotidiana. A diferencia de un enfriamiento estacional gradual, un cold snap es un evento.

Cold snapは気温の急激で突然の低下を表します。警告なしに冬が到来したり、春や秋に予期せぬ凍結が起きたりすること。「snap」という言葉は突然さと、ある種の断絶を示唆します。寒さにパチンと切り替わる、穏やかな天気からパチンと抜け出す。急な寒波は人々の準備が整っていない時に襲い、農作物にダメージを与え、暖房システムに負担をかけ、日常生活を乱すためニュースになります。季節の緩やかな冷え込みとは違い、cold snapは一つの出来事です。

Cold snap은 갑작스럽고 급격한 기온 하락을 묘사합니다. 예고 없이 겨울이 찾아오거나, 봄이나 가을에 예상치 못한 동결이 오는 상황입니다. 'snap'이라는 단어가 급작스러움과 일종의 단절을 암시합니다. 추위로 급변하고, 온화한 날씨에서 갑자기 빠져나오는 것입니다. 한파는 사람들의 대비가 안 되어 있고, 농작물에 피해를 주고, 난방 시스템에 부담을 주며, 일상을 혼란시키기 때문에 뉴스거리가 됩니다. 점진적인 계절 변화와 달리, 한파는 하나의 사건입니다.

Examples

Cold snap expected.
预计会有骤冷
Se espera una ola de frío
急な冷え込みが予想される
한파가 예상된다.
We're in a cold snap.
我们正处于寒潮中
Estamos en una ola de frío
寒波の真っ只中だ
한파 중이다.
The cold snap continues.
寒潮持续中
La ola de frío continúa
寒波が続いている
한파가 계속되고 있다.
After the cold snap.
寒潮之后
Después de la ola de frío
寒波の後
한파가 지나고 나서.

Pronunciation

/kəʊld snæp/

Usage Guide

Context: sudden cold, weather change, winter

Tone: descriptive

✓ Do Say

Cold snap.
寒潮来了
Ola de frío
急な寒波だ
한파가 왔다.
We're having a cold snap.
我们正经历寒潮
Estamos en plena ola de frío
急に冷え込んでるね
갑자기 추워졌어.
Cold snap expected.
预计会有寒潮
Se espera una ola de frío
寒波が来るらしい
한파가 올 거래.

✗ Don't Say

Don't use for normal winter cold—a snap implies sudden change from milder conditions
不要用于正常的冬季寒冷——snap意味着从较温和的条件突然变化
No uses para el frío normal de invierno—snap implica un cambio repentino desde condiciones más suaves
通常の冬の寒さには使わない。snapは穏やかな状態からの急な変化を意味する
일반적인 겨울 추위에는 사용하지 마세요. snap은 온화한 날씨에서 갑작스러운 변화를 의미합니다
Avoid for prolonged cold periods—snap suggests brevity
避免用于长期寒冷——snap暗示短暂性
Evita para períodos prolongados de frío—snap sugiere brevedad
長期間の寒さには避ける。snapは短期間を示唆する
장기간의 추위에는 쓰지 마세요. snap은 짧은 기간을 암시합니다

Common Mistakes

Using for gradual seasonal change—cold snaps are specifically sudden and sharp
The phrase is usually treated as a singular noun: 'the cold snap is here,' not 'cold snaps are here' for one event

Origin & History

The word 'snap' has meant a sudden break or sharp sound since the 15th century. By the mid-19th century, 'cold snap' emerged in American English to describe sudden cold spells, with 'snap' conveying the abruptness of the temperature drop. The term spread to British English and remains the standard phrase for a short period of suddenly cold weather. Its opposite, 'hot snap,' never caught on—heatwave won that competition.

Etymology: Cold + snap (sudden)

First recorded: British/American English

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Weather forecasts; News coverage

Regional notes: Universal term for sudden cold weather.

Variations

Cold snapThe cold snap