Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey
This refers to the brass balls displayed by pawnbrokers - they aparently also used to have a brass monkey above them - cold weather would force the welding to snap.
I don't think so - it does not tie in with reality at any point other than the brass balls.
Type in Brass Monkey in the Search box at the top for an extensive, invigourating and non agreed set of origins of the phrase!
Replies
- Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey Bob 08/09/02
- Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey Bob 08/10/02
- Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey Alexander Bahnev 08/10/02
- Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey Bob 08/10/02
See also: the meaning and origin of 'Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey'.