cold one: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2 / Informal High FrequencyVery Informal, Colloquial
Quick answer
What does “cold one” mean?
A can, bottle, or serving of cold beer.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A can, bottle, or serving of cold beer.
Can refer informally to any cold alcoholic beverage (e.g., a cold cider). Often used in social, casual contexts to suggest having a drink, particularly to relax or cool down.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and meaning are largely identical, though specific beer brands mentioned in context will differ.
Connotations
Conveys a sense of casual relief, leisure, and camaraderie in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common and natural in informal speech in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “cold one” in a Sentence
[Verb] a cold oneLet's [verb] a cold one.I could really do with a cold one.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cold one” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- "Fancy cold-one-ing after the match?" (Very informal, playful, non-standard)
American English
- "We should cold-one it on the porch later." (Very informal, playful, non-standard)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in formal business contexts. Might appear in very casual after-work socialising.
Academic
Never used.
Everyday
Core usage context: casual conversation among friends, at barbecues, after sports, etc.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cold one”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cold one”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cold one”
- Using it in formal writing.
- Using it to refer to a cold non-alcoholic drink like water (though possible jokingly).
- Saying 'cold ones' in a non-idiomatic way (e.g., 'two cold ones' is fine, but 'the ones are cold' breaks the idiom).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, no. Its primary meaning is an alcoholic drink, usually beer. It might be used jokingly for a soda, but this is not the standard meaning.
Extremely informal and colloquial. It is suitable for casual conversation with friends but inappropriate for formal or professional writing.
Yes, the plural form 'cold ones' is commonly used when referring to multiple beers (e.g., "We picked up a six-pack of cold ones").
Both refer to beer. 'A pint' specifies the volume (568ml in UK, 473ml in US) and is common in pub contexts. 'A cold one' emphasises the temperature and casual nature, and isn't volume-specific. 'Pint' is common in the UK; 'cold one' is used in both the UK and US.
A can, bottle, or serving of cold beer.
Cold one: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkəʊld ˈwʌn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkoʊld ˈwʌn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Grab a cold one.”
- “Crack open a cold one with the boys.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a fridge with one can left. You're thirsty. You think, "I could go for that COLD ONE." The number 'one' links to the single can.
Conceptual Metaphor
RELAXATION IS COOLING DOWN / A SOCIAL DRINK IS A PHYSICAL OBJECT TO BE GRABBED.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'grab a cold one' be MOST appropriate?