blow hot and cold

Cultural  

1. To change one's mind constantly about the value of something: “The administration should stop issuing such contradictory statements on taxes; they are alienating the voters by blowing hot and cold on tax reform.”

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blow hot and cold Idioms  

1. Change one's mind, vacillate, as in Jean's been blowing hot and cold about taking a winter vacation. This expression comes from Aesop's fable (c. 570 b.c.) about a man eating with a satyr on a winter day. At first the man blew on his hands to warm them and then blew on his soup to cool it. The satyr thereupon renounced the man's friendship because he blew hot and cold out of the same mouth. The expression was repeated by many writers, most often signifying a person who could not be relied on. William Chillingworth put it: “These men can blow hot and cold out of the same mouth to serve several purposes” (The Religion of Protestants, 1638).

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Example Sentences

Jonny's prediction: Manchester United blow hot and cold - they are capable of playing some really nice football but I don't know where their goals will come from without Bryan Mbeumo or Bruno Fernandes.

From BBC

Earlier this month, Sir Keir said UK government policy towards China could not continue to blow "hot and cold".

From BBC

Starmer promised Monday that his country's China policy would no longer blow "hot and cold".

From Barron's

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says UK government policy towards China cannot continue to blow "hot and cold".

From BBC

Even as incoming economic soundings and forecasts blow hot and cold about the growth outlook, crude oil continues to tick up to its highest levels of the year - stalking $100 per barrel for the first time since the summer of 2022.

From Reuters