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ice out

B2 informal separable transitive
In simple words

To ignore someone on purpose to make them feel left out.

Literal meaning: To put someone 'on ice' — the cold of ice suggests emotional coldness and rejection.

Meanings

1 B2 idiomatic informal

To deliberately exclude or give someone the cold shoulder, especially in a social setting.

"After the argument, her friends started icing her out of all their plans."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 idiomatic informal

To exclude someone from a business deal or professional opportunity.

"The senior partners iced him out of the negotiations without explanation."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Common in social and workplace contexts. Particularly frequent among younger speakers and in discussions of social dynamics, bullying, or relationship conflicts. Chiefly American English.

Commonly used with

friend colleague teammate group partner member

Forms

Base
ice out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
ices out
he/she/it
Past simple
iced out
yesterday
Past participle
iced out
have + pp
-ing form
icing out
continuous

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