PhrasesHub

Freeze the balls off a brass monkey - cold enough to

    Definitions

      • extremely cold weather
        To describe extremely cold weather conditions, often used humorously or exaggeratedly

      • very unpleasant or uncomfortable situation
        To describe a situation that is very unpleasant or uncomfortable, often used in a humorous or exaggerated way

      • discourage someone
        To advise against engaging in a particular activity or task, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit

    Examples of Freeze the balls off a brass monkey - cold enough to

    • The temperature outside this morning was so brutal that it would freeze the balls off a brass monkey.

      This idiom is used to describe a very extreme and frigid temperature. The term "brass monkey" is actually not a real animal, but rather a slang term for a rack used to hold cannonballs, which would shrink and fall off in very cold weather. This idiom is a humorous way of saying that it is so cold that even the testicles of a mythical creature made of brass would freeze and fall off.

    • The wind chill factor dropped so low last night that the frozen Lake Michigan seemed to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.

      In this example, the idiom "freeze the balls off a brass monkey" is used to describe extremely low temperatures that are so cold that they would make even the testicles of a monkey made of brass (which is not possible) freeze off. The phrase "brass monkey" comes from the old days when cannonballs were made of brass and were stored outside in the winter. When it got very cold, the brass contracted, causing the cannonballs to fall off the wooden shelves on which they were stored, much like how the balls of a monkey made of brass might fall off due to extreme cold. Therefore, in this example, the cold weather was so intense that it made Lake Michigan, already frozen, appear as if it had the power to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.

    • The polar vortex that hit the Midwest a few years ago was so cold that it could freeze the balls off a brass ostrich.

      Here, the idiom is used to describe extreme cold temperatures so low that it could cause even the reproductive organs of an ostrich made of brass to freeze. The use of "brass ostrich" is creative and humorous, as ostriches are not typically associated with brass or extreme weather conditions. This example serves to illustrate the extreme cold measured during the polar vortex in 2019, and again highlights the absurdity of the idiom by suggesting that the cold could render even an imaginary ostrich frozen.

    • The temperature outside dropped so low that my car's radiator could have frozen the balls off a brass giraffe.

      In this example, the idiom is used in a unique context, where the cold weather was so severe that it might have frozen the testicles of an imaginary giraffe made of brass. The use of "brass giraffe" is creative and humorous, since a giraffe's balls aren't really a part of a typical conversation or anatomy discussion. This example makes use of the absurdity of the idiom to demonstrate how exceptionally cold it got, making clear to the reader that the temperature was so low that it was almost unimaginable.

    • The winter storm that hit New York last year was so vicious that the cold could freeze the balls off a brass koala.

      This final example uses a humorous and creative twist, suggesting that the cold weather was so intense that it could freeze the testicles of an imaginary koala made of brass. This example displays the unusual and comical nature of the idiom when applied to a koala, which is not typically associated with the harsh winter storms in New York. The use of "brass koala" replaces the traditional monkey with a marsupial, making for a memorable and captivating representation of the idiom's meaning.


    Conclusion

    This idiom is mostly used to describe the extreme cold weather, but it can also be used to describe a very unpleasant situation. The phrase is often used in a humorous or exaggerated manner, adding a touch of sarcasm to the conversation. It can also be used to discourage someone from doing something that is not beneficial.

    Origin of "Freeze the balls off a brass monkey - cold enough to"

    The origin of this idiom is a bit unclear and there are a few theories about its origins. One theory suggests that it originated from the naval industry during the 18th or 19th century. The term "brass monkey" was used to refer to a metal frame that held cannonballs on a ship. The cold weather would cause the metal to contract, causing the cannonballs to fall off, hence "freezing the balls off a brass monkey."

    Another theory suggests that the phrase originated from the practice of using brass monkey statues on ships to hold fruit. In extremely cold weather, the fruit would freeze and fall off the monkey, giving the impression that the monkey's "balls" had fallen off.

    Regardless of its exact origins, the idiom has been in use since the 19th century and has evolved over time to its current form. It is now a widely used phrase in English, often used in a humorous and exaggerated manner to describe extremely cold weather or unpleasant situations.