Cold Reading

Pronunciation: /koʊld riːdɪŋ/

Definitions of cold reading

noun a reading or performance done without any prior preparation or rehearsal

Example Sentences

A1 Cold reading is a technique used by some psychics to make it seem like they know personal information about someone without actually knowing them.

A2 Many magicians use cold reading to create the illusion of mind-reading during their performances.

B1 Learning how to do cold reading can be a valuable skill for actors who need to quickly analyze and understand a script.

B2 Cold reading is often used by salespeople to quickly assess a customer's needs and preferences.

C1 Psychologists sometimes use cold reading techniques to gather information about a patient's thoughts and feelings.

C2 Cold reading can be a controversial practice, as it involves making educated guesses about someone's personality or background.

Examples of cold reading in a Sentence

formal The psychic claimed to have mastered the art of cold reading to impress her clients.

informal I heard that guy at the party is really good at cold reading people.

slang I can't believe how accurate his cold reading was, it was mind-blowing!

figurative The author's ability to cold read the audience's reactions and adjust the speech accordingly was impressive.

Grammatical Forms of cold reading

• past tense: cold read
• plural: cold readings
• comparative: colder reading
• superlative: coldest reading
• present tense: cold read
• future tense: will cold read
• perfect tense: have cold read
• continuous tense: is cold reading
• singular: cold reading
• positive degree: cold reading
• infinitive: to cold read
• gerund: cold reading
• participle: cold read

Origin and Evolution of cold reading

First Known Use: 1922 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The term 'cold reading' originated in the world of psychic readings and mentalism, referring to the practice of making general statements and predictions about someone without any prior knowledge or information.

Evolution of the word: Initially used in the context of psychic readings, the term 'cold reading' has since expanded to refer to any situation where someone uses vague or general statements to create the illusion of knowledge or insight.