cold fish

noun

: a cold aloof person

Synonyms

• cold turkey
• iceberg
• icicle

Example Sentences

She's a lovely person, but her husband's a bit of a cold fish.

her husband is such a cold fish that I'm reluctant to have them over for dinner

Recent Examples on the Web

As Alfred Uhry’s book — also a Tony winner — relates, Leo, the manager of a pencil factory owned by Lucille’s uncle, is a misfit in Atlanta: a New York Jew but also a cold fish. —Jesse Green, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2023

There would be plates of bright red tuna crudo, the cold fish drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt flakes. —Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2022

Uncle Richard came round to the flat especially to reason with her, and reported back to Hilary that his niece was a funny sort of girl, bit of a cold fish, very set on her own ideas. —Tessa Hadley, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2022

Each ticket comes with a 15-minute window for pickup, to avoid any risk of long lines and cold fish. —Star Tribune, 25 Feb. 2021

That solace is not forthcoming, and not only because Elliot is a very cold fish. —Jesse Green, New York Times, 21 June 2018

Frank thought him, despite the expensive suit, the leather briefcase and the manicured hands, or perhaps because of them, a cold fish. —Andrew Liptak, The Verge, 25 Mar. 2018

There is nothing cathartic or healthful about breaking a cold sweat, and a cold fish is not attractive as entrée or lover. —Michelle Weber, Longreads, 19 Dec. 2017

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Word History

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined above