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
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How to Reset Caffeine Tolerance Without Crashing If cold turkey sounds brutal, taper.
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The cleanest method is a gradual taper rather than going cold turkey.
Noun
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Artful pizzas go beyond margherita with varieties like a clam pie with funky lemons, confit shallots, and raclette mornay sauce, or a chilaquiles slice with chorizo.
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This National Historic Landmark on the Freedom Trail is lauded for its quintessential New England seafood, from fresh oysters to classic clam chowder.
Noun
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Ideal for a breezy, no-makeup makeup look, the formula comes in a portable stick and is easy to blend using fingers only.
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It’s topped with chamoy, an orange slice instead of lime (although there is a slice of lime in the drink) plus a Tamarindo stick.
Noun
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Auctioneers say the unending fascination with the Titanic — which sank in 1912 after hitting an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Europe to New York, killing more than 1,500 people — and the rarity of artifacts adds up to high demand and exorbitant prices.
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Auctioneers say the unending fascination with the Titanic - which sank in 1912 after hitting an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Europe to New York, killing more than 1,500 people - and the rarity of artifacts adds up to high demand and exorbitant prices.
Cite this Entry
“Cold fish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold%20fish. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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