cold patch: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, Technical (construction/road maintenance)
Quick answer
What does “cold patch” mean?
A small area of asphalt used to make quick repairs on damaged roads.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small area of asphalt used to make quick repairs on damaged roads.
Any temporary, often substandard, repair; a metaphorical quick-fix solution to a problem.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in American English. In British English, 'tarmac repair' or 'road patching' might be used for the literal sense, but 'cold patch' is understood.
Connotations
Same negative connotation of impermanence and poor quality in both dialects.
Frequency
Low to medium frequency in American English; low frequency in British English outside technical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “cold patch” in a Sentence
[apply/v] + a cold patch + [to/on] + [road/n]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cold patch” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The crew will patch the road with a cold mix tomorrow.
American English
- They need to cold-patch that pothole before the winter sets in. (Note: 'cold-patch' as a compound verb is rare but attested in AmE technical use)
adjective
British English
- We used a cold-patch asphalt mix for the temporary repair.
American English
- Grab a bag of cold patch material from the depot.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorical: 'The new policy is merely a cold patch for the systemic financial issues.'
Academic
Rare. Might appear in civil engineering texts describing road maintenance techniques.
Everyday
Literal: 'The city crews are out putting cold patches in all the potholes.' Metaphorical: 'His apology felt like a cold patch; it didn't really address the underlying hurt.'
Technical
Literal and precise: 'Use a cold mix asphalt patch for emergency repairs during freezing conditions.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cold patch”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'They cold patched the road' is non-standard; use 'applied a cold patch to'). Confusing it with 'cold snap' (a period of cold weather).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, by its nature, a cold patch is a temporary, quick-fix solution for road damage. It is less durable than hot mix repairs.
Yes, commonly. It describes any superficial, temporary solution to a complex problem, often implying it is inadequate.
A 'cold patch' is a specific *method* or *material* used for repair (unheated asphalt). A 'pothole repair' is the general act, which could be done with cold patch, hot mix, or other materials.
It is a fixed compound noun. The stress pattern ('COLD patch') and its single-concept meaning confirm this.
A small area of asphalt used to make quick repairs on damaged roads.
Cold patch is usually informal, technical (construction/road maintenance) in register.
Cold patch: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkəʊld ˌpæʧ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkoʊld ˌpætʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's just a cold patch on a much bigger problem.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'cold patch' like a plaster (band-aid) for a road—it's a quick, unheated, temporary cover-up.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOLUTIONS ARE REPAIRS; A TEMPORARY SOLUTION IS A COLD PATCH.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of a 'cold patch' in its literal sense?