Job's comforter

American  

[johbz] / dʒoʊbz /

noun

1. a person who unwittingly or maliciously depresses or discourages someone while attempting to be consoling.

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Job's comforter British  

noun

1. a person who, while purporting to give sympathy, succeeds only in adding to distress

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Etymology

Origin of Job's comforter

First recorded in 1730–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Job's comforter

Maurice is Tom's sausage-maker, but he has now emerged as a truly biblical figure, Job's comforter.

From The Guardian ● Apr. 30, 2013

In the final sections of the book, Zorn, 32, obviously failing in energy and spirit,' takes the advice of Job's comforter: to curse heaven and die.

From Time Magazine Archive

"You are rather a Job's comforter," laughed the colonel.

From At the Point of the Sword by Hayens, Herbert

‘Why, I mean to say,’—and133 he spoke in a positive way that was not usual with him,—‘I mean to say,’ said he, ‘that you are a regular Job’s comforter, and no mistake.’

From Cast Away in the Cold An Old Man's Story of a Young Man's Adventures, as Related by Captain John Hardy, Mariner by Hayes, I. I. (Isaac Israel)

But had there been a Job's comforter at hand to put these black thoughts into my head they would not have helped me nor harmed me much.

From In the Sargasso Sea A Novel by Janvier, Thomas A. (Thomas Allibone)