A frosty reception
Meaning
An unfriendly, unwelcoming, or cold greeting that makes someone feel unwelcome.
Origin
The phrase 'a frosty reception' taps into the deeply ingrained human association between physical warmth and emotional welcome. For centuries, across cultures, warmth has symbolized kindness, welcome, and comfort, while coldness—like the biting chill of frost—has signified distance, hostility, and rejection. The word 'frosty' itself, derived from Old English, began to be used metaphorically as early as the 16th century to describe a cold or severe demeanor. By the 19th century, the combination of this natural imagery with the act of 'reception' became a common and vivid way to describe a greeting utterly devoid of kindness, painting a picture of an unwelcoming atmosphere as stark and chilling as a winter morning.
Examples
- After his controversial remarks, the politician received a frosty reception from the crowd at the town hall meeting.
- She wasn't surprised by the frosty reception her ambitious proposals got from the budget-conscious board members.