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cold fish. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
cold fish, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
cold fish in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Etymology
Coined by William Shakespeare in 1611, see quotations.
Pronunciation
Noun
cold fish (plural cold fish or cold fishes)
- (idiomatic, potentially, endearing) A heartless individual; a person lacking empathy and emotion.
- Synonyms: wet blanket; see also Thesaurus:spoilsport
c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , page 293, column 2:[…] it was thought ſhe was a Woman, and was turn'd into a cold fiſh, for ſhe wold not exchange fleſh with one that lou'd her: […]
1993, Lisanne Norman, Turning Point:He wouldn't have thought her such a cold fish. Pity. Still, there was plenty of time. Perhaps when she got used to his company she would thaw a little.
2003, Robert Wilson, The Blind Man of Seville, →ISBN, page 13:You're a cold fish. You have no heart.
- (slang) A sexual partner who, during sex, lacks vigor or emotional reciprocity.
- Synonyms: dead fish, starfish
Ah, don't be such a cold fish!
Translations