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walk in the snow

(Canada, chiefly politics, idiomatic) An occasion when a momentous career decision is made, especially a decision to resign or retire.

ˈwɒ(ː)k ɪn ðə ˈsno(ʊ̯)Documented since 1910s1910sSilenthistoricalCurrent136 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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Etymology timeline

Born ~1919 · 1 year of recorded use
1919Born2026: 1 citationToday, 2026

Definitions

#1·Apr 27, 2026

(Canada, chiefly politics, idiomatic) An occasion when a momentous career decision is made, especially a decision to resign or retire.

Origin: From a remark by Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Eliott Trudeau (1919-2000) on February 29, 1984, describing how he made his decision to retire. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

Walk in the snow means: An occasion when a momentous career decision is made, especially a decision to resign or retire.. It is mainly Canadian English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

walk in the snow means: An occasion when a momentous career decision is made, especially a decision to resign or retire.. Register: informal, Canadian English. Often not understood outside its region; gloss the word on first use when writing for an international audience. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.

Cluster: work
Heard in the wild
  • “We did go out and walk in the snow/rain mixture. When we got home and she was dried off with a towel, she had to do several zoomies around the house.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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For specific readers

Walk in the snow means: An occasion when a momentous career decision is made, especially a decision to resign or retire.. It is mainly Canadian English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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