brass monkey

brass monkey

An indicator of extreme weather or temperature, typically the cold. It is usually used with the qualifier "enough," a verb, and some physical appendage of the monkey, most commonly in the semi-vulgar phrase, "cold enough to freeze the balls (testes) off a brass monkey." After that blizzard set in, it became cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey. Gosh, it's hot enough out here to melt the ears off a brass monkey.
See also: brass, monkey
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

brass monkey

used in various phrases to refer to extremely cold weather.
Brass monkey comes from the mid 20th-century vulgar slang expression ‘cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey’, the origin of which has been debated. One suggestion relates it to brass trays known as monkeys on which cannon balls were once stowed aboard warships.
1994 Camping Magazine David will be doing his best to show you how to keep warm under canvas even if the temperature outside has dipped to brass monkey level.
See also: brass, monkey
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • be in
  • barf
  • barfola
  • blow
  • blown
  • cross over
  • face off
  • face-off
  • answer to
  • bagged
References in periodicals archive
Some of our plaques are just meant to be funny rather than have a poke at someone and we think nowhere is safe from The Brass Monkey Club."
PLAQUE ATTACK; 'Brass Monkey'protest group join fight against skate park demolition
The Brass Monkey upgrade is priced at USD995, while the Anodized Platinum edition is priced at USD1,095 on the Citadel's base price.
Dodge plans to add two new appearance packages for 2016 Durango range
This acquisition adds HTML5 support to the Brass Monkey platform and will extend the reach of Brass Monkey controllers to web browsers without the need for a plug-in, the company said.
Brass Monkey reports acquisition of Emotely
SAILING: Liverpool YC, racing at Pwllheli while the Mersey Marina is closed, completed their Brass Monkey series with two races in a fresh breeze.
IN BRIEF: Thomas at the Max
The Arctic brass monkey weather is likely to be the worst this winter.
Dear Rachel: ARCTIC BRASS MONKEYS!
An ad for the Freelander involved a father saying he was proud of his son because he was willing to brave temperatures 'that would melt the balls off a brass monkey'.
Land Rover escapes ad rap
The joint in question is the Brass Monkey, a no-frills karaoke bar off Wilshire Boulevard.
The late, late show from 'Seinfeld' to 'Family Guy,' sitcom staffers seek post-workday solace in L.A.'s funkiest watering holes
The poem ends with a rhetoric that reorients us to the fact that 'home' is elusive in its physical as well as spiritual dimensions for the Black man: "Mama, brass monkey can't live in this country."
Editorial
The Brass Monkey will have a Thanksgiving Dinner menu at its Fuxing location on Nov.
Top Thanksgiving dining options in Taipei for 2018
Before the birth of her family, Elswick's Judith Nutt was a regular Brass Monkey competitor and in 2006 posted her best-ever finish of third place in 78:56.
Tracy retains title in popular half marathon; BIRTLEY RUNNER BEATS A SICKNESS BUG TO TRIUMPH
WITH a name like the Brass Monkey Half Marathon you would expect it to be extremely cold, and this year's edition was no exception.
Bitterly cold on 'Brass Monkey' RUNNING
Time to join CLAN BRASS monkey time: CLAN the north-east cancer support charity is looking for volunteers to join the Aberdeen Lions Nippy Dipper at Aberdeen Beach at 10.30am on Boxing Day.They raised PS5000 last year.
Time to join CLAN
FAKENHAM: 1.00 Caught By Witness, 1.30 Tea Caddy, 2.00 Persian Herald, 2.30 King Of The Wolds, 3.00 Brass Monkey, 3.30 Fitandproperjob.
TODAY'S TIPS
HUNTINGDON: 12.40 Brass Monkey, 1.10 Suburban Bay, 1.40 My Wigwam Or Yours, 2.10 Vulcanite, 2.40 Royal Guardsman, 3.10 Iron Butterfly, 3.40 Smart Motive.
TIPS
In addition, the Kizashi Ring of Fire app is the first commercial racing game powered by Brass Monkey remote control technology.
Suzuki announces Kizashi Ring of Fire racing game app