Cold as a toad

Posted by Ken Thompson on September 22, 2004

In Reply to: Cold as a toad posted by Smokey Stover on September 21, 2004

: : Anyone else ever heard this one? My grandmother used it meaning, roughly, cold & clammy. Am wondering if it's an English phrase, or if she was mixing German with her English -- cold as Tod (cold as Death).

: No, not Tod. Have you ever handled toads? SS

Actually, yes, I have. Used to have a terrarium, had a few common or garden toads in it. Turned them loose when I couldn't supply enough gnats for them. Cute lil' beggars.
Reason I mentioned German, 'twas my grandmother's first language. At home, we spoke English, ala mode German, so to speak.