The cold ate away at her bones

Status
Not open for further replies.

alpacinou

Key Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2019
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Persian
Home Country
Iran
Current Location
Iran
If a place is really cold, does it make sense to say "the cold ate away at one's bones"?

Is this okay?

The cold ate away at her bones as she trudged through the tundra.

Is there a better way to express the idea?
 

Tarheel

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2014
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
It's new to me, but I like it!
 

Rover_KE

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
It’s new to me, and I don’t like it.

The cold penetrated to her bones.
 

Skrej

VIP Member
Joined
May 11, 2015
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
It doesn't bother me. I think I may have even heard it (or something similar) before.

If you want to be even more dramatic, swap out 'ate' with something like 'gnawed'

Edit: While it doesn't use the phrase of eating away, Robert W. Service wrote a darkly humorous poem about being cold even after death entitled The Cremation of Sam McGee. It does speak of the cold stabbing like a nail, though. It's a fun poem to read aloud and has a great surprise twist at the end.

To make it even better, Johnny Cash once narrated it.
 
Last edited:

Tarheel

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2014
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
It always brings a smile to my face
When I think about that time and place.
It was as cold as it could be
When they cremated Sam McGee.
😊
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top