PhrasesHub

Cut no ice

    Definitions

      • have no influence or effect
        Express that someone or something is not able to make an impact or sway a decision or opinion

      • be unimportant or irrelevant
        Indicate that a particular factor or issue is not significant or worthy of consideration

    Examples of Cut no ice

    • The salesperson's persuasive skills cut no ice with the skeptical customer.

      In this example, "cut no ice" is used in a figurative sense to mean that the salesperson's persuasive skills were unsuccessful in convincing the customer. The phrase "cut no ice" comes from the literal meaning of cutting blocks of ice to shape them into shapes used for navigation. In this metaphor, the salesperson's persuasive abilities are compared to the inability of blocks of ice to navigate, implying that they have no influence or effect.

    • The politician's promises cut no ice with the voters, who were disillusioned by his previous broken promises.

      Again, "cut no ice" is used figuratively in this example to mean that the politician's promises were not persuasive to the voters. The metaphor is based on the inability of blocks of ice to navigate, indicating that the politician's promises lacked influence or effect. The voters' disillusionment with previous broken promises reinforces this meaning.

    • The new strategy presented by the manager cut no ice with the board of directors, who were unconvinced by its feasibility.

      In this example, "cut no ice" is used in a meeting context to indicate that the manager's strategy failed to persuade the board of directors. The metaphor is based on the inability of blocks of ice to navigate, implying that the strategy lacked influence or effect. The board's lack of conviction about the feasibility of the strategy reinforces this meaning.

    • The athlete's performance cut no ice in the competition, as he failed to make it to the next round.

      Here, "cut no ice" is used to indicate that the athlete's performance was not successful in the competition. The metaphor is based on the idea that blocks of ice are unable to navigate and are an obstacle, suggesting that the athlete's performance failed to overcome obstacles and consequently was not successful.

    • His persuasive speech didn't make much of an impact on the skeptical audience. It simply cut no ice.

      The phrase "cut no ice" is idiomatic and means that something is not effective or influential. It comes from the fact that in the past, ice was transported on ships and used as a method of preserving goods. The quality of the ice determined its viability as a preservative. If the ice "cut no ice," it was bad quality and could not keep goods fresh. By using this phrase in the example, we're saying that the speaker's argument was as unhelpful as bad-quality ice - it didn't persuade or convince the audience.

    • Despite his vast experience in the industry, his opinions held no weight in the meeting.Cut no ice

      In this example, "cut no ice" is used to mean that the person's opinions did not have any influence or impact in the meeting, just like how an object that "cuts no ice" does not have the ability to clear a path through ice or snow.

    • The sales pitch fell flat, and the customer showed no interest in the product. Cut no ice

      Here, "cut no ice" is employed to indicate that the sales pitch did not engender any interest in the customer, just as an object that "cuts no ice" does not produce any effect.

    • The applicant's resume failed to impress the hiring manager, and he received no job offers. Cut no ice

      In this case, "cut no ice" is used to convey that the applicant's resume did not create a favorable impression on the hiring manager, much like how an object that "cuts no ice" fails to make an impression.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "cut no ice" is used to convey the idea that something or someone is unable to have an impact or influence. It can be used to express that a certain argument, opinion, or action is not important or relevant in a particular situation.

    The phrase is often used in a negative context to dismiss the significance of someone's efforts or arguments. It can also be used to caution against pursuing a futile course of action, as it implies that the effort will be in vain.

    Overall, "cut no ice" is a straightforward way to convey the idea that something or someone is not able to make a meaningful impact or impression.

    Origin of "Cut no ice"

    The origin of the idiom "cut no ice" can be traced back to the 17th century. The phrase likely originated from the idea of cutting through ice, which requires significant effort and force. In this context, if something "cut no ice," it would not be able to make an impression or have an effect.

    Over time, the phrase evolved to be used in a metaphorical sense, indicating that something or someone is unable to make an impact or influence. The idiom has since become a common expression in the English language to convey the idea of insignificance or lack of influence.