cold fish

noun

, Informal.

1. a person who is very reserved or aloof in manner or who lacks normal cordiality, sympathy, or other feeling.

cold fish

noun

1. an unemotional and unfriendly person

Word History and Origins

Origin of cold fish¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Idioms and Phrases

A hard-hearted, unfeeling individual, one who shows no emotion, as in Not even the eulogy moved him; he's a real cold fish . This expression was used by Shakespeare in The Winter's Tale (4:4): “It was thought she was a woman, and was turn'd into a cold fish.” However, it came into wider use only in the first half of the 1900s.

Example Sentences

The two seamen made a good meal of some cold fish and bread and the bottle of wine, most of which latter going down Dan's throat.

From Project Gutenberg

Take any sort of cold fish, bone it, and then chop it with the remains of a cold omelet, and some mushrooms if you have them.

From Project Gutenberg

It was cold fish and sea-sodden hardtack till they saw land again—if they ever did.

From Project Gutenberg

Into this pour creamed fish made by mixing equal proportions of left-over cold fish and white sauce.

From Project Gutenberg

To possess these qualities opens one to the suspicion of being a cold fish.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• abstract
• candid
• detached
• disinterested
• sober
• unbiased
• unemotional