cold snap

noun

1. a sudden onset of a relatively brief period of cold weather.

cold snap

noun

1. a sudden short spell of cold weather

Word History and Origins

Origin of cold snap¹

An Americanism dating back to 1770–80

Idioms and Phrases

Also, cold spell . A short period of unusually cold weather, as in The recent cold snap has threatened the crop . The first expression presumably likens snap in the sense of “a sudden bite or cut” to sudden unexpected cold. The variant is more obvious, spell having been used in the sense of “a bout or turn at something” since the early 1700s. [Early 1800s]

Example Sentences

A cold snap drove up consumption, forcing Ukrenergo, the main transmission system operator, to introduce controlled blackouts throughout the country.

From Seattle Times

This week’s cold snap also took parts of Argentina and Paraguay by surprise.

From Seattle Times

At a time when global warming is driving ocean temperatures to record-setting highs and marine heat waves are striking around the globe, it might seem paradoxical that climate change could be linked to the underwater equivalent of a cold snap.

From Science Magazine

PSE, an investor-owned utility, argued it needs the facility to help keep service consistent for natural gas customers during a cold snap.

From Seattle Times

During a January cold snap, it provided about 5% of PSE’s total gas supply.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• cold spell
• cold wave
• cold weather