過冷河

過⫽冷河 (verb-object) (Cantonese, figurative)

1. (cooking) to rinse in cold water after boiling

   • 若不喜歡西餐，過過冷河，拌入日式醬油、辣椒絲與薑絲，就是開胃的涼拌菜。
     若不喜欢西餐，过过冷河，拌入日式酱油、辣椒丝与姜丝，就是开胃的凉拌菜。

     From: 2013 October, 素苗餐廳廚師陽仔, 秋葵, in 八鄉錦田地區報

     joek⁶ bat¹ hei² fun¹ sai¹ caan¹, gwo³ gwo³ laang⁵ ho⁴, bun⁶ jap⁶ jat⁶ sik¹ zoeng³ jau⁴, laat⁶ ziu¹ si¹ jyu⁵ goeng¹ si¹, zau⁶ si⁶ hoi¹ wai⁶ dik¹ loeng⁴ bun⁶ coi³.

     If you don't like Western cuisine, then rinse them in cold water and mix in some Japanese soy sauce, shredded chilli pepper and shredded ginger, and you'll get an appetizing cold dish.

2. to swim or bathe in cold water when one is hot

   • 焗一身汗，跳進湖裏「過冷河」、吃腸仔和喝啤酒，都是芬蘭人焗桑拿的指定動作。
     焗一身汗，跳进湖里「过冷河」、吃肠仔和喝啤酒，都是芬兰人焗桑拿的指定动作。

     From: 傅蕊雯, 【芬蘭自由行】芬蘭浴真係來自芬蘭？親身試煙燻美容桑拿, in 飲食男女

     guk⁶ jat¹ san¹ hon⁶, tiu³ zeon³ wu⁴ leoi⁵ “gwo³ laang⁵ ho⁴”, hek³ coeng^4-2 zai² wo⁴ hot³ be¹ zau², dou¹ si⁶ fan¹ laan⁴ jan⁴ guk⁶ song¹ naa⁴ dik¹ zi² ding⁶ dung⁶ zok³.

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

3. to briefly go into a building with air conditioning during hot weather
4. to go through a "sanitization period"; to go through a "cooling period"; to go through a period in which one is prohibited from engaging in a similar activity, job, task, etc

   • 還有過去考生落選後，需要「過冷河」半年才能重考，但今年就縮短至四個月，希望有志之士再接再厲，減少被其他部隊搶走機會。
     还有过去考生落选后，需要「过冷河」半年才能重考，但今年就缩短至四个月，希望有志之士再接再厉，减少被其他部队抢走机会。

     From: 2018 April 28, 陳明慧 and 王春怡, 四大紀律部隊各出奇謀搶人才, in 東周6 (Singtao Times Weekly)

     waan⁴ jau⁵ gwo³ heoi³ haau² sang¹ lok⁶ syun² hau⁶, seoi¹ jiu³ “gwo³ laang⁵ ho⁴” bun³ nin⁴ coi⁴ nang⁴ cung⁴ haau², daan⁶ gam¹ nin⁴ zau⁶ suk¹ dyun² zi³ sei³ go³ jyut⁶, hei¹ mong⁶ jau⁵ zi³ zi¹ si⁶ zoi³ zip³ zoi³ lai⁶, gaam² siu² bei⁶ kei⁴ taa¹ bou⁶ deoi^6-2 coeng² zau² gei¹ wui⁶.

     Also, in the past, after being rejected, candidates need to go through a half-year "cooling period" before they can reapply, but this year, the period has been shortened to four months, in hopes that people of ambition can persist and that the chance of other units accepting them will be minimized.

   • 現屆政府上場滿一年，代表上屆政府啲高官已經離開熱廚房夠一年，過完冷河可以轉新工。
     现届政府上场满一年，代表上届政府啲高官已经离开热厨房够一年，过完冷河可以转新工。

     From: 2018 July 28, 政府鬧人才荒　翻兜張雲正入熱廚房, in 東方日報 (Oriental Daily News)

     jin⁶ gaai³ zing³ fu² soeng⁵ coeng⁴ mun⁵ jat¹ nin⁴, doi⁶ biu² soeng⁶ gaai³ zing³ fu² di¹ gou¹ gun¹ ji⁵ ging¹ lei⁴ hoi¹ jit⁶ cyu⁴ fong^4-2 gau³ jat¹ nin⁴, gwo³ jyun⁴ laang⁵ ho⁴ ho² ji⁵ zyun³ san¹ gung¹.

     The current regime has been in power for one year, meaning the high-ranking officials of the previous regime has left the "hot kitchen" for a year and can get a new job after their sanitization period.