# stone cold

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/stone-cold
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Very cold (literally); lacking any semblance of warmth.

## Examples

- My coffee is stone cold now.
- He left his dinner on the table for an hour, and now it is stone cold.
- Despite the fire burning in the hearth, the room felt stone cold, reflecting the icy silence between the two guests.

## Origin

The expression draws upon the archetype of stone as a substance generally cold to the touch. This literal comparison transitioned into figurative use to denote a high degree of temperature loss or, alternatively, an absolute state of certainty. From the literal chill of the mineral to the emphatic chill of the adjective.

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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.