Cold Face

Primarily used to signal emotional coldness, being savage, or delivering a brutal statement without remorse. Core slang-emoji in digital communication.

Used literally for cold weather, especially during winter months or to describe cold food and drinks. Metaphorical usage of 'being cold' is growing among younger urban users.

Commonly used in winter months, especially in regions like Lebanon, Jordan, and elevated areas. Younger users adopt the Western 'cold-blooded' usage through social media.

Universally understood as representing extreme cold temperature. The metaphorical meanings vary by region and age group.

Used primarily in literal context for cold weather during winter season. Urban youth increasingly use it to mean someone is ignoring or giving the cold shoulder.

Mostly literal usage for cold weather or cold beverages. The metaphorical 'cold behavior' meaning is slowly entering usage among English-speaking youth.

Used to represent extreme cold weather, especially in northern regions. Also used in internet slang to say someone is 'cool' in an emotionless or detached way.

Primarily literal — used to express feeling cold (寒い) or during winter. Also used humorously when a joke lands badly, reinforcing the cultural 'cold reception' concept.

Used for cold weather but also widely adopted in K-pop and gaming fandoms to describe an idol or player with an icy, intense, or emotionless performance style.

Used literally for cold weather and also adopted in internet culture to describe an 'icy' or aloof personality, especially in Taiwanese youth slang.

Literal usage for cold temperatures. In Cantonese internet culture, it pairs with expressions for emotional coldness or indifference in a humorous way.

Used during the rare cold-weather moments (BaguioCity, ber-months). Also adopted by Filipino Gen Z for the 'cold-blooded savage' usage from Western social media.

Mostly used by younger users who have adopted Western usage — signifying someone who acts 'cool' or unbothered. Literal cold usage is less common given the tropical climate.

Used in northern Thailand during cooler months literally. Thai Gen Z on TikTok and Twitter adopt the 'cold-blooded' metaphorical usage.

Primarily literal for cold weather in northern Vietnam during winter. Youth on TikTok and Facebook increasingly use it for the emotional coldness meaning.

Rarely used literally due to tropical climate. Mostly adopted metaphorically from Western Gen Z culture to mean someone is acting cold, detached, or ruthlessly cool.

Used in mountainous regions during cold seasons literally. Younger Saudis on Twitter and TikTok use it with the global Gen Z 'ice cold' metaphorical meaning.

Used during rare cold snaps in winter or when referencing air conditioning blasting in summer. Social media savvy users adopt the 'cold-blooded' usage.

Used during winter months, especially in Upper Egypt and Alexandria when temperatures drop noticeably. Also creeping into youth slang for emotional coldness.

Common during Turkish winters, especially in Ankara and eastern regions. Also used on Turkish Twitter/X to signal 'that was ruthless' in response to cold clapbacks.

Used literally during cold Persian winters, especially in northern and western regions. Younger Iranians use it metaphorically to describe someone being emotionally cold.

Rarely literal due to the warm climate. Used metaphorically by Nigerian Gen Z — mainly on Twitter — to describe ice-cold behavior or a savage response.

Used literally during cold Cape Town or Johannesburg winters. South African youth also adopt the global Gen Z 'cold-blooded' usage on social media.

Heavily used literally for the consistently cold and rainy British/Irish weather. Also used in British humor to deadpan acknowledge something emotionally cold or ruthless.

Used during French winters and in ski-season content. French Gen Z adopts the metaphorical usage, especially on TikTok, for someone acting 'froid' (cold) emotionally.

Used for literal cold — German winters are notorious. Also used online in gaming communities to describe cold-blooded, efficient, no-emotion performance.

Used humorously during mild winters — Spanish and Italian users often dramatically deploy it for temperatures that northern Europeans would find mild.

Used in southern Brazil during winter, but mostly adopted metaphorically by Brazilian TikTok and Twitter users to mean someone is ice-cold or unbothered.

Rare literal usage — mostly used in northern Mexico winters or high-altitude areas. Mexican Gen Z primarily uses it for the 'cold-blooded savage' internet meaning.

Adopted more metaphorically across Latin America, especially among younger users on TikTok, to signal admiration for someone's ruthless or emotionless behavior.

Used literally during southern hemisphere winter months. Australian slang culture embraces the 'cold-blooded' usage enthusiastically for savage comebacks.