# freeze out

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/freeze-out
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to exclude someone from a group by being cold and unfriendly. You use this when people ignore someone until they feel they do not belong.

For teachers: to exclude a person from a group or activity through social isolation or coldness. The verb is transitive and often appears in the passive voice.

## Examples

- The other kids started to freeze out the new student.
- After he reported the safety violation, his coworkers began to freeze him out by stopping all casual conversation when he entered the room.
- The dominant firm attempted to freeze out its smaller competitors by securing exclusive contracts with the region's primary raw material suppliers.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They froze out to him." but "They froze him out." — The verb is transitive and does not take the preposition 'to' before the object.

## Usage notes

- This phrasal verb is transitive and the object can sit between 'freeze' and 'out'.
- Teaching tip: Use the 'cold' metaphor to help students remember that this involves being unfriendly or ignoring someone.

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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.