A Cold Day in Hell – Idiom of the day for IELTS Speaking & Writing
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Curious to know how to express impossibility confidently in the IELTS Speaking & Writing sections? Use the idiom ‘A Cold Day in Hell’ in different scenarios and learn its meaning, synonyms, examples, and tips to make your answers sound effortless.
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The idiom ‘A Cold Day in Hell’ can help you showcase your English language proficiency level. This would help you to refer to something that is close to impossible. By correctly using this idiom, your response will be flowing naturally where you would sound like a native. Such idioms work well in IELTS Speaking and Writing sections and can make your English more vivid and memorable. With the knowledge of their meaning and application, you are just a step closer to getting your desired band scores in the IELTS Exam.
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What is the Meaning of the Idiom ‘A Cold Day in Hell’?
Effective usage of idioms can strengthen your answers for which you must understand the actual meaning of the idiom and practice using them in several sentences. This would affect your IELTS Band Score, especially the areas of coherence and lexical resources. The table below breaks down when ‘A Cold Day in Hell’ is used, along with some synonyms and examples of its appropriate usage in Speaking and Writing.
Topic |
Description |
A Cold Day in Hell |
Idiom |
Definition |
Used to indicate an event that will never happen. |
Origin |
The origin of the idiom dates back to 1886, when it was used in a newspaper headline to praise General Gordon’s victory in the elections of Georgia. Also there are references to it being used in 1944 by a newspaper in Miami. There is also evidence in a newspaper in LosAngeles to the idiom being used in the recent past in 1990. |
Synonyms |
Very little to no chance, unlikely to happen, Impossible |
Examples |
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Scenarios to Use ‘A Cold Day in Hell’ in IELTS Speaking & Writing Answers
The appropriate use of any idiomatic phrase in IELTS can set you apart from others. The idiom, 'A Cold Day in Hell', can be helpful to express opinions, make predictions, and statements about improbable events. As you utilize this idiom in your answers during the IELTS Speaking & Writing sections, you can discuss habits, future predictions, or hypothetical situations. Below are some of the situations where this idiom could be used naturally to improve coherence and vocabulary range.
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Scenario 1:
Friend 1: John is mad about fish and chicken. Friend 2: Yeah, I know. But our office hosted a conference on Veganism in which John and I took part. Friend 1: Do you think the conference would bring out any change in him? Friend 2: Oh! It will be a cold day in hell when John turns Vegan. |
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Scenario 2:
Kate: Kim is so proud because he has graduated from Stanford. Julie: It will be a cold day in hell when you stop gossiping about Kim. |
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Exercise on ‘A Cold Day in Hell’ for IELTS Speaking & Writing
To test your progress in understanding the idiom ‘A Cold Day in Hell’, let’s move on with the exercise given below. Once you complete it, you will be able to clearly apply the idiom confidently in your IELTS Speaking and Writing answers for greater clarity. This would help in sharpening meaning and giving you time to apply it.
EXERCISE : Choose the correct idiom and fill in the blanks given in the following sentences.
Hit the nail on the head |
Bite the bullet |
Let the cat out of the bag |
Break the ice |
A Cold Day in Hell |
Barking up the wrong tree |
1 I told him that I would forgive him for forgetting my birthday, but that would take place on __________.
2 When new colleagues arrive, we always __________ in some way to ensure everyone feels comfortable.
3 She strongly __________ when it comes to the notion of teamwork being necessary for success.
4 He thought I was lying about the surprise party. I wasn't and he was actually __________.
5 She had __________ before my birthday and revealed the secret gift.
6 I didn't want to undergo a painful dental surgery, but I had to __________.
Answer to the Exercise on ‘A Cold Day in Hell’ for IELTS Speaking & Writing
You can check your answers given below and carefully compare them with the correct ones. This will improve your skills to recognize your own mistakes, change the way you process information, and become well prepared to achieve a band score of 8+.
- A Cold Day in Hell
- Break the ice
- Hit the nail on the head
- Barking up the wrong tree
- Let the cat out of the bag
- Bite the bullet
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Showcasing a good command of English would help add a lexical richness and fluency in your Speaking and IELTS Writing Sections. Therefore, once you get familiar with the meaning, try using the idiom ‘A Cold Day in Hell’ in different scenarios such as hypothetical situations, opinions about improbable events, or unlikely predictions. With consistent practice, you can confidently incorporate it into your answers.
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