ice tongs
C1Everyday, Specialised (in contexts like hospitality, historical domestic use)
Definition
Meaning
A tool, typically made of metal, with two hinged or scissor-like arms, used for picking up and handling blocks or cubes of ice.
Can refer metaphorically to any delicate or precise handling of a cold or emotionally distant situation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Always plural in form ('tongs'), referring to a single tool. Denotes a specific implement distinct from general kitchen tongs, often associated with a bygone era of ice delivery.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. The object itself is less common in modern daily life in both regions.
Connotations
Evokes a sense of nostalgia, formal entertaining (e.g., cocktail parties), or antique/vintage settings.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in contemporary speech in both dialects, primarily encountered in historical descriptions, antique shops, or classic cocktail crafting.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] used the ice tongs to [Verb] the ice.Pass me the [pair of] ice tongs.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; used in hospitality supply or antique auction catalogues.
Academic
Rare; might appear in historical or material culture studies.
Everyday
Used when describing vintage items or specific, formal serving etiquette.
Technical
Used in bartending/mixology guides for traditional technique.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Here are the ice tongs for the party.
- The waiter used silver ice tongs to put ice in my glass.
- Among the antique silverware, a pair of ornate ice tongs caught my eye.
- The mixologist, a purist, insisted on using chrome ice tongs to avoid warming the artisanal ice with his hands.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ICE TONGS sound like ICE TANGS' – metal tangs (prongs) for handling ice.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRECISE CONTROL IS HANDLING WITH TONGS (e.g., 'He handled the diplomatic crisis with the delicacy of ice tongs.').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid calquing as 'ледяные клещи' (icy pliers). The standard equivalent is 'щипцы для льда'.
- Remember the obligatory plural form in English ('tongs'), unlike the Russian singular 'щипцы'.
Common Mistakes
- Using singular 'ice tong'.
- Confusing with 'ice cube tray' (the mould).
Practice
Quiz
In which modern context are you MOST likely to encounter 'ice tongs'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is plural in form but singular in meaning, referring to one tool. We say 'These ice tongs are silver,' not 'This ice tongs is silver.'
Ice tongs are typically smaller, more delicate, and often have a scissor-like or pincer mechanism designed specifically for gripping individual ice cubes or blocks. Kitchen tongs are larger and used for general food handling.
While designed for ice, they can be used to handle any small item where a precise, non-manual grip is desired, such as sugar cubes or decorative stones, though this is not their primary function.
Modern refrigerators with built-in ice makers and the use of plastic ice cube trays that pop out ice have made dedicated serving tools like ice tongs less necessary in everyday home life.