as in cold turkey
a cold aloof person
her husband is such a cold fish that I'm reluctant to have them over for dinner
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Recent Examples of cold fish
That impulse extends to dealing with occasional rude customers at her day gig, where the coworkers are nice but the boss, family-business heir Maxwell Sterling (Peter Serafinowicz), is one nasty cold fish.
—
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 27 Nov. 2025
Lancelot, still the Round Table’s greatest hero, is a bit of a cold fish with an unexpected role to play as the saga winds to its close.
—Elizabeth Hand, Washington Post, 16 July 2024
This emulsified mixture of garlic, olive oil and egg is a classic accompaniment to fish (especially cold fish).
—Domenica Marchetti, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
Anxious people are hurt and damaged while avoidants are cold fishes.
—Vicky Spratt, refinery29.com, 17 Oct. 2023
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
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 27 Nov. 2025
Lancelot, still the Round Table’s greatest hero, is a bit of a cold fish with an unexpected role to play as the saga winds to its close.
—Elizabeth Hand, Washington Post, 16 July 2024
This emulsified mixture of garlic, olive oil and egg is a classic accompaniment to fish (especially cold fish).
—Domenica Marchetti, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
Anxious people are hurt and damaged while avoidants are cold fishes.
—Vicky Spratt, refinery29.com, 17 Oct. 2023
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold fish
Noun
-
The food menu has salads and breakfast sandwiches, paninis and burritos ($11-$15), as well as a lone cold turkey club.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
13 May 2026
-
Why not go cold turkey on occasion and report economic statistics with no shading?—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There’s a raw bar with oysters, ceviche and the Seafood Colosseum with oysters, lobster, mussels, clams and the ceviche of the day with caviar.—
Connie Ogle
May 15,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
-
Besides the clam chowder, make sure to order the Big Dean’s Cheeseburger, which is a double meat and double cheese monster, and the menu also includes a seriously good chili dog.—
Richard Guzman,
Daily News,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
The Ducks made several poor decisions trying to break the puck out, and one eventually landed it on Dorofeyev’s stick in front.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
The spaghetti with meatball is not quite as comically large as the mozzarella stick at Rosso.—
Henri Hollis,
AJC.com,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The diarrhea stories are only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.—
Hillary Busis,
Vanity Fair,
11 May 2026
-
Eastern Greenland’s Scoresby Sound—a place of Arctic wilderness, icebergs and relatively stable skies— will see expedition cruise ships packed with eclipse chasers on expedition cruise ships.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cold fish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold%20fish. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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