Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (orig. US/Aus.) to take a tight grip of, to grasp, e.g. to refuse to leave someone alone or to get behind someone.

1847		in Yale Literary Mag. XII 111: ‘Now boys,’ said Bob, ’freeze on,’ and at it they went .
1867		Crawford Mosby & HIs Men 241: One hundred of [the wagons] were burnt. Before the match was applied to the wagons containing the officers’ baggage, our men froze on the valises, and brought them away .
1885		Bulletin (Sydney) 11 July 24/1: He had been posturing as an Australian poet. We believed he would then start posturing as an English poet. England is rich enough in poetic power to stand it. But he didn’t set up as an English poet. He ‘froze on’ to us.
1895		‘’Arry on Harry’ in Punch 24 Aug. 90/3: And our yesterday’s wheeze you freeze on to to-morrer, as sure as a gun.
1896		‘Frederick Benton Williams’ (H.E. Hamblen) On Many Seas 375: There was a bag of charts and a iine Pillar sextant in the closet, and freezing on to the whole outfit I hastily made my way out.
1900		Sporting Times 26 May 2/2: Somehow, my young friends did not freeze on to the animile. ‘Don’t look like lasting, cockie,’ said one.
1910		Wodehouse Psmith in the City (1993) 101: He altered his views to some extent as to the iniquity of freezing on to a decent share of the doubloons.
1911		E.B. Morris Senior 26: Spencer. When they come out, freeze on to the Jones girl, and I’ll tell him what’s what!
1925		Wodehouse Carry on, Jeeves 21: If you were to – as it were – freeze on to that parcel until we get back to London.
1931		O. Strange Law O’ The Lariat 92: Freeze on to this – fellas as ain’t for me are agin me.
1936		J. Curtis Gilt Kid 31: The blokes who’re coming out on top are the strong-arm guys who can grab all they want for themselves and freeze on to it when they’ve got it.
1950		Goldin et al. DAUL 74/1: Freeze on to. To cling tightly to, as a stolen article; to stay close to, as to a prospective victim; to pursue relentlessly.
1956		J. Curtis Look Long Upon a Monkey 52: You’d better freeze on to this. Stick it in your bag.
1982		G. Newbold Big Huey 248: freeze (on) (v) Refuse to share.

2. (also freeze up on) to ignore, to snub, to reject.

1899–1900		C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 35: The barkeeps are beginning to freeze up on you.
1960		C. Cooper Jr Scene (1996) 6: Dell, the Scene’s senior pusher, freezing up on all but a few of his regulars.
1973		E. Bunker No Beast So Fierce 213: Freeze on that [...] all that heavy philosophical bullshit.
1980		E. Folb Runnin’ Down Some Lines 185: Finally froze on pills, ’cause they too tough.
2001		(con. 1975–6) E. Little Steel Toes 149: I freeze on this and you’ll put me in on the next one? For reals?