In many places around the world , wintertime brings snow , ice , and really cold temperatures . Some places can even experience a deep freeze ! But even if you do not live in an area with really low temperatures , you can still use “freeze " idioms and expressions . For example , you could use them at work . During the coronavirus pandemic , many workplaces have put in place hiring freezes . With a hiring freeze , you are not able to hire more people . The hiring process is not moving . It is frozen . During the pandemic , many businesses and companies also faced financial uncertainties . And some were not sure they would survive . So , many places may have put a freeze on wages . When your wages are frozen , they stay at the current level . There is another way we “freeze ” money . If you are having legal or financial trouble , the courts might freeze your bank accounts . When this happens , you cannot use money in a frozen account . Now , “freeze ” is one of those verbs that changes with every preposition you add to it . Let's start with “out .” It makes the verbal expression “freeze out .” Sometimes in business dealings , some people or groups may get frozen out by others . If you are frozen out of a business deal , you are not involved . You don't have a seat at the table . If you are a cold , unfeeling person , you may want to isolate someone socially . You don't invite them to parties . You don't tell them about fun events . You are trying to freeze them out of a group . But this seems mean and childish . Freezing people out is something we might have done as children . If you ever have had a friend try to freeze you out of a group , if can hurt -- even years later . That memory can be frozen in your mind . It is unchanging and unaffected by the passing of time . Now let's talk about the verbal phrase “freeze up .” If something “freezes up ” it stops working . An engine , for example , can freeze up – meaning it stops running . People can also freeze up . If a person freezes up , they are so afraid or worried , they are unable to speak or move . For example , if I am afraid of public speaking , I might freeze up while speaking in front of a large group of people . I'm not able to say or do anything . Sometimes we can also just say “froze .” I was so afraid that I just completely froze . Of course , the word “freeze ” also describes some weather conditions . The verbal “freeze over ” is usually used to describe a body of water . If a lake has frozen over it is completely frozen . You can safely walk or skate on it . But before we leave “freeze over ,” there is another way we use that expression . So , if it freezes over , you know things are bad . Hey , Alyssa I got my boating license yesterday . How about you join me on the river sometime ? It'll be fun ! First , I can't swim . You can stay in the boat . And second , I've seen you drive . There's no way I'm getting in a boat with you . That's cold , Alyssa . So , it's a funny way to say “never .” We use it jokingly . Personally , I would not use it in any serious situations , such as during a job interview or when meeting someone's parents for the first time . And that's all the time we have for this Word and Their Stories . If you know friends who might like this show , don't freeze them out ! Invite them to listen .