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Glite Dictionary
in the nip

in the nip

9.9
When the weather is cold outside
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : en el frío
  • He likes running outdoors in the nip, finding the chill refreshing.

Examples

  • We took a brisk walk in the nip to wake ourselves up.

  • I love walking in the nip during winter.

  • Farmers start work early, even in the nip of autumn mornings.

  • It's quite chilly in the nip this morning.

  • I enjoy jogging in the nip during early morning hours when it's brisk outside.

  • The landscape looked beautiful in the nip of a chilly autumn afternoon.

  • She bundled up before heading out in the nip, appreciating the fresh, cool air.

Synonyms

chilly
vsin the nip
100 1.0

A bit cold in a way that feels uncomfortable

is about brisk or cold weather without the negative unpleasant tone
nippy
vsin the nip
8 4.1

A little cold weather that makes you need a jacket

is about cold or brisk weather without the stimulating feeling
nipping
vsin the nip
3.5

Slightly cold and fresh in a way that makes you feel awake

is about cold weather without focusing on pleasant invigoration
niffy
vsin the nip
  • UK
9.9

Being a little cold, especially the air or weather

is about cold or brisk weather rather than only slight coolness

Antonyms

warm
∞ 1.0

Having a comfortable level of heat, often after recent use

How Cold

freezing
1.0
chilly
100 1.0
in the nip
  • Informal
9.9
nippy
8 4.1
cool
608 1.0

Surface Forms

in the nip positive

Morphology

in + the + nip

The noun 'nip' can mean a sharp cold sting, so hearing 'in the nip' could be linked to being in a state of chilliness and is partly inferable from the constituents. However, the expression relies on a fixed collocation/article pattern (cf. 'a nip in the air') that is somewhat idiomatic and not fully predictable to a B1 learner who has not encountered the phrase, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

In the nip may come from the idea that the word nip means to 'pinch' or bite, like a small sharp cold that pinches your skin. That's why in the nip means 'in cold or chilly weather'.