# keep someone on ice

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/keep-someone-on-ice
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To keep someone uninformed and waiting for a response.

## Examples

- They are keeping me on ice about the job offer.
- The company kept the candidates on ice for weeks while they finished their final interviews.
- Despite his repeated inquiries regarding the contract, the manager continued to keep him on ice, offering nothing but vague promises of a future update.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.