I'm cold as a new razor blade.

Question

What does 'cold' mean in the given sentence?I'm cold as a new razor blade.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

With no further text, it simply means 'of low temperature'.  A simile allows of only one metaphoric reference.

Jackson6612 · Answer

Are 'temperature' and 'razor blade' related anyway?

Further text:
Now so long, Marianne, it's time that we began ...
For now I need your hidden love.
I'm cold as a new razor blade.
You left when I told you I was curious,
I never said that I was brave.

Source:
http://www.musicsonglyrics.com/0/leonardcohenlyrics/leonardcohensolongmariannelyrics.htm

Mister Micawber · Answer

Are 'temperature' and 'razor blade' related anyway?-- Yes, in that new razor blades are cold.

Jackson6612 · Answer

Are you sure, Mr Micawber? I highly doubt it.

Mister Micawber · Answer

That is your prerogative.  I leave the rest of your posts to greater minds.

Kooyeen · Answer

As far as I know, metal is considered to be "cold". Put a piece of wood on your skin. Then try with a metallic object: it should feel cooler. Such associations might come up in several contexts, for different reasons. For example, robots are considered to be "cold". It might be because they are made of metal, and also because they are not "alive", have no "blood", have no "warmth" compared to human beings.

By the way, is the sentence "I'm cold as a razor blade" natural enough? I know "as" can also be used instead of "like", but I thought that was restricted to a few specific cases and that it was otherwise considered to be "old-fashioned" or "literary". Is it so? Well, of course the original sentence seems to come from a song, and we know in songs and poetry everything is allowed... But in modern English, I would expect that sentence to be:

I'm cold like a new razor blade.

Any thoughts on "like" vs "as" will be appreciated.

Jackson6612 · Answer

Mister MicawberThat is your prerogative. I leave the rest of your posts to greater minds.

Dear Mr Micawber

I believe you misunderstood me and it seems my posting in someway disturbed you, otherwise you wouldn't have said, 'I leave the rest of your posts to greater minds'.

Jackson6612Are you sure, Mr Micawber? I highly doubt it.

I was only asking for a little explanation. I'm only a learner which itself attest to the fact that sometimes I make poor choice of words which don't really reflect/translate what I exactly want to say or the way I want to be understood. It is also unfortunate to see that a thing of such a small magnitude has disturbed a person of your calibre and knowledge. I feel obliged to say sorry if I have offended you in some way because I have learned a lot from you, and hopefully will contine to.

Now to the main question.

A razor blade freshly taken out of the cover feels more cold because it's surface is almost clear. As it is left open to the air, oxygen reacts to form oxide(s), and dirt etc will also deposit on it. After all this its conductivity will reduce and won't have the same cold sensation as the fresh one.

Now this doesn't mean that I was expecting such kind of explanation from you because you're a language expert.

Best wishes
Jackson

I'm cold as a new razor blade.

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