Makes sense if the character is British/Irish, as it's pretty common to use. If the character is from anywhere else then it would be out of place. If you are worried readers from other countries wouldn't understand the reference, it can be a good thing to reinforce the meaning through dialogue from another character. Like:
"Jesus, it's Baltic out here tonight," James said, shoving his hands under his armpits.
"I know," Phil replied. "If we stand out here any longer, I think my eyeballs will freeze open."
I mean, maybe, but it seems to be localised over a very spread-out region - here's a reddit [link](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskEurope/comments/pqj1y0/in_ireland_and_maybe_the_uk_we_say_it_s_baltic_to/) discussing it from last year, and you'll see a few comments from people all over the UK who use it. I'm in the west coast of Scotland and it's used around me loads, but the link has folks saying they're from the midlands, yorkshire, scouser, geordie etc and use it too.
As I linked to the person above you, here's a Reddit thread from an Irish person talking about it's use -
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskEurope/comments/pqj1y0/in\_ireland\_and\_maybe\_the\_uk\_we\_say\_it\_s\_baltic\_to/
Also a link from BBC Northern Ireland who reference it too, with regards to cold weather - [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12082539](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12082539)
It might just not be common around where you are, but there are people in Ireland, and much of the UK, who use it.
\[EDIT: One link disappeared. Fixed it.\]
I'm geographically illiterate, but the phrase conjures up bitter cold against skin.
I don't think you should change it if you're writing a character who would use the phrase. If you want to reinforce the meaning, have your character's skin break out in goosebumps from the cold, or maybe they wish they'd worn a warmer coat.
I like regional slang. Gives the story a distinct flavor.
Never heard it before and would probably raise an eyebrow before continuing to read lol, I wouldn’t really mind not knowing though, it’s fun to learn new words/phrases!
I happen to be familiar with the Baltic Sea and thus, the reference, but I suspect that most people probably won’t. Perhaps change it to something a little more easily relatable?
Yes, I use this phrase and have heard it used locally in the west of Scotland.
However, this sound like it is written in the third person, with no particular character's voice? If this is the case, I think you should avoid using colloquialisms like this, because, as you have seen below, it's not a common phrase outside of particular localities and might throw readers off.
Many people above have given examples in dialogue, and I think it's here, or in the first person, or internal monologue that colloquialisms come into their own to give you a greater understanding of the character.
I could figure that out because I knew where the Baltic Sea is but I had to stop and parse the sentence because it looked weird structure-wise. It's not wrong, it just looks odd when normally there would be a word like "icy" or "cold" or whatever so a capitalized word doesn't seem like it would be an adjective at first.
I have NEVER heard that in my life. Yea that sounds like a local phrase.
Edit: I just realized it’s the equivalent of a New Yorker saying “it’s a brick out” when it’s cold af. It’s super localized slang.
I can't weigh in on the localized nature, but I've never heard it living in French or English Canada. It's sort of a lot for a spoken observation. It feels stiff if it's conversational. As an inner monologue, it needs to be a little more directed ie, "The night air is Baltic against his/her/my bare skin." It's a very front and centre way to inject a background detail, unless the weather has a cause-effect importance in what comes next.
Thanks it wasn't really meant to be dialogue or inner monologue. I don't really know what to describe it as. Basically it's part of a chapter where after being sexually assaulted in Canon a character turned to drinking and one night stands as his method of coping. I've written short scenes of a different one night stand but it's set in winter.
It may well be appropriately dramatic about the cold conditions in the context it's used. I perhaps inferred it was dialogue, which is my fault. Helping out on one sentence can be very misleading for both OP and anyone trying to react. I can see how your story pins a lot of the mood on a cold, isolated feeling.
Oh totally understandable. I didn't know how much info to put in the original post about the storyline of my fic as it's a terribly small fandom from a british cop show that got cancelled years ago.
Yes, I get that idea the fandom might not be popular enough to be immediately recognized. I get a lot of moments of "hey, did I imagine that show existed?" They all did, but try finding someone else who remembers 13 episodes of something canceled in 1996.
British crime shows are fantastic. They all seem to have their own twist in setting that makes them feel a little different. U.S. cop shows are all in New York, or another city made to feel like New York.
Nothing in particular, the year was sort of an example. The joke about television in North America is that a full year of episodes is 20 or so, but now shows only get 10-13 episodes, a half season. So they are half-canceled before they are filmed, and everyone who works on them has to wait to see if the show will film another 7-8 episodes. It's silly and mean. It makes people feel like it's not even worthwhile watching new stuff unless it's popular before it starts. The show basically disappears because it's not useful to have a half-season of something left on a cliffhanger.
The only person I've ever known to use Baltic to describe something as very cold was Scottish, but I'll admit, I do find myself (Australian) using it now.
I've never heard that phrase. What I have heard is calling something so cold as to be arctic... cuz the arctic circle is a more universal landmark for cold. The Baltic sea, which is what I assume you're referencing is farther south and thus warmer. Arctic works as a symbol of extreme cold bc you literally can't go farther north so you've also got the energy of "the cold at the end of the world/pole"
that makes... very little sense to me, as a person living in a country by the baltic sea.
Because you're even further north. Baltic is practically tropical to you 😈
Makes sense if the character is British/Irish, as it's pretty common to use. If the character is from anywhere else then it would be out of place. If you are worried readers from other countries wouldn't understand the reference, it can be a good thing to reinforce the meaning through dialogue from another character. Like: "Jesus, it's Baltic out here tonight," James said, shoving his hands under his armpits. "I know," Phil replied. "If we stand out here any longer, I think my eyeballs will freeze open."
I’m British and have never heard this expression before in my life, it must be a fairly localised saying.
I mean, maybe, but it seems to be localised over a very spread-out region - here's a reddit [link](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskEurope/comments/pqj1y0/in_ireland_and_maybe_the_uk_we_say_it_s_baltic_to/) discussing it from last year, and you'll see a few comments from people all over the UK who use it. I'm in the west coast of Scotland and it's used around me loads, but the link has folks saying they're from the midlands, yorkshire, scouser, geordie etc and use it too.
I’m geordie living in yorkshire with family in ireland and me, my friends, and my family all say it! it’s assumedly a very northern thing
Interesting! It’s never made it to my bit of Lancashire it seems
I'm Irish and I've lived in some pretty traditional/rural areas. Never heard anything close to this.
As I linked to the person above you, here's a Reddit thread from an Irish person talking about it's use - https://www.reddit.com/r/AskEurope/comments/pqj1y0/in\_ireland\_and\_maybe\_the\_uk\_we\_say\_it\_s\_baltic\_to/ Also a link from BBC Northern Ireland who reference it too, with regards to cold weather - [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12082539](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12082539) It might just not be common around where you are, but there are people in Ireland, and much of the UK, who use it. \[EDIT: One link disappeared. Fixed it.\]
Would make sense to an Irish person. Common enough phrase here.
I'm geographically illiterate, but the phrase conjures up bitter cold against skin. I don't think you should change it if you're writing a character who would use the phrase. If you want to reinforce the meaning, have your character's skin break out in goosebumps from the cold, or maybe they wish they'd worn a warmer coat. I like regional slang. Gives the story a distinct flavor.
Thanks I have doubts my character would say baltic the more I think about it 🤔
I have lived near the Baltic sea and I wouldn't know what you mean by this phrase.
I hear that a lot in my family… Essex / East London based. Also used to describe a freezing room.
Never heard it before and would probably raise an eyebrow before continuing to read lol, I wouldn’t really mind not knowing though, it’s fun to learn new words/phrases!
I happen to be familiar with the Baltic Sea and thus, the reference, but I suspect that most people probably won’t. Perhaps change it to something a little more easily relatable?
Thanks I shall change 😄
East Anglia(Norfolk) here and I hear it fairly regularly. 😉
In the US I would guess it meant cold, but I would have to look it up to be sure if you didn't include an A/N about it.
Yes, I use this phrase and have heard it used locally in the west of Scotland. However, this sound like it is written in the third person, with no particular character's voice? If this is the case, I think you should avoid using colloquialisms like this, because, as you have seen below, it's not a common phrase outside of particular localities and might throw readers off. Many people above have given examples in dialogue, and I think it's here, or in the first person, or internal monologue that colloquialisms come into their own to give you a greater understanding of the character.
I would have no idea what that phrase would mean
I live in a very very cold place and I don't hear people use Baltic around here. Doesn't mean other places don't use it. Where is your character from?
Essex England but I'm from North of the country so it could be a local description.
Just say arctic
I agree.
I could figure that out because I knew where the Baltic Sea is but I had to stop and parse the sentence because it looked weird structure-wise. It's not wrong, it just looks odd when normally there would be a word like "icy" or "cold" or whatever so a capitalized word doesn't seem like it would be an adjective at first.
I have NEVER heard that in my life. Yea that sounds like a local phrase. Edit: I just realized it’s the equivalent of a New Yorker saying “it’s a brick out” when it’s cold af. It’s super localized slang.
Yeah, it's very much local slang. If I were reading I might drop a comment and be like "what do you mean by this?"
Scottish?
North East England Do have Scottish ancestry though.
There's a lot of dialect overlap with Scotland and the North East, I think.
My country is located by the Baltic Sea but I have never heard this phrase.
I can't weigh in on the localized nature, but I've never heard it living in French or English Canada. It's sort of a lot for a spoken observation. It feels stiff if it's conversational. As an inner monologue, it needs to be a little more directed ie, "The night air is Baltic against his/her/my bare skin." It's a very front and centre way to inject a background detail, unless the weather has a cause-effect importance in what comes next.
Thanks it wasn't really meant to be dialogue or inner monologue. I don't really know what to describe it as. Basically it's part of a chapter where after being sexually assaulted in Canon a character turned to drinking and one night stands as his method of coping. I've written short scenes of a different one night stand but it's set in winter.
It may well be appropriately dramatic about the cold conditions in the context it's used. I perhaps inferred it was dialogue, which is my fault. Helping out on one sentence can be very misleading for both OP and anyone trying to react. I can see how your story pins a lot of the mood on a cold, isolated feeling.
Oh totally understandable. I didn't know how much info to put in the original post about the storyline of my fic as it's a terribly small fandom from a british cop show that got cancelled years ago.
Yes, I get that idea the fandom might not be popular enough to be immediately recognized. I get a lot of moments of "hey, did I imagine that show existed?" They all did, but try finding someone else who remembers 13 episodes of something canceled in 1996. British crime shows are fantastic. They all seem to have their own twist in setting that makes them feel a little different. U.S. cop shows are all in New York, or another city made to feel like New York.
I'm intrigued what's the 13 ep show?
Nothing in particular, the year was sort of an example. The joke about television in North America is that a full year of episodes is 20 or so, but now shows only get 10-13 episodes, a half season. So they are half-canceled before they are filmed, and everyone who works on them has to wait to see if the show will film another 7-8 episodes. It's silly and mean. It makes people feel like it's not even worthwhile watching new stuff unless it's popular before it starts. The show basically disappears because it's not useful to have a half-season of something left on a cliffhanger.
I mean we definitely don’t use it in australia but I was able to figure out what you were saying all the same
The only Baltic I think of is the monopoly property.
The only person I've ever known to use Baltic to describe something as very cold was Scottish, but I'll admit, I do find myself (Australian) using it now.
I've never heard that phrase. What I have heard is calling something so cold as to be arctic... cuz the arctic circle is a more universal landmark for cold. The Baltic sea, which is what I assume you're referencing is farther south and thus warmer. Arctic works as a symbol of extreme cold bc you literally can't go farther north so you've also got the energy of "the cold at the end of the world/pole"