put something on ice，字面意思是 “把某个事物放在冰上”，实际意思是 “推迟，搁置某件事情”。它通常被用来谈论一次交易或一项计划 “暂缓”。如果将这个表达中的动词 “put” 换成 “keep”，即 “keep something on ice”，意思就是 “持续搁置某件事情”。

第一个意思：

Literally, to put something in a cold place to preserve it, as of food or drink.

从字面上看，就是把东西放在冷的地方保存，比如食物或饮料。

英文解释：

· to chill, to refrigerate (champagne);

· to make (champagne) cold

冰镇，冷藏(香槟)，使之变冷。

This expression refers to the use of ice to preserve food and prevent it from decaying.

这个短语指的是用冰来保存食物，防止食物腐烂。

例句：

If you don't put that shrimp on ice, we won't be able to eat it later.

如果你不把虾冷藏，我们一会儿就不能吃了。

You made sure to put the champagne on ice, right?

你确定把香槟冰镇了，对吧?

第二个意思：

搁置，推迟，近义词：delay，postpone

各个版本的英文解释大同小异：

If a plan is on ice, a decision has been made to delay it for a period of time

如果一项计划on ice，表示决定将其推迟一段时间。

If a plan or project is on ice, no action is taken to put it into operation.

如果一项计划或项目on ice，意思是没有采取行动将其付诸实施。

If you put something such as a plan or project on ice, you stop it happening for a period of time.

如果你把某个计划或项目on ice，意思是你在一段时间内不让它发生。

例句：

I'm putting my plans for a new car on ice until I finish college.

我把买新车的计划搁置起来，直到我大学毕业。

My plans for going to the USA are on ice for the moment.

我去美国的计划暂时搁置了。

Due to the latest financial reports released by the company, the merger with their closest rival has been put on ice.

由于这家公司发表了最新的财务报告，与其最主要的竞争对手的合并计划已被搁置。

It’s a great idea, but we’ll have to put it on ice for a while due to budgetary constraints.

这个想法很不错，但由于预算有限，我们不得不把它搁置一段时间。

Both projects are on ice until the question of funding is resolved.

在资金问题解决之前，这两个项目都被搁置了。

内容参考：https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/chinese/features/todays-phrase/ep-201229

出处：头条号 @猫眼儿Zz