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
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
The book also says the sauce is to be served with calf’s head or cold fish.
—G. Daniela Galarza, Washington Post, 27 July 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
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
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
The book also says the sauce is to be served with calf’s head or cold fish.
—G. Daniela Galarza, Washington Post, 27 July 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold fish
Noun
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How Leaders Can Find Freedom Retirement shouldn’t be about just stopping everything cold turkey.—
Chad Willardson,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
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How to digital detox Fisher warns that going cold turkey can be a jolt to the system.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
7 June 2025
Noun
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The menu has something for everyone—chicken wings, Hatteras-style clam chowder, jumbo shrimp, and quarter-pound hot dogs.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
16 June 2025
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Catch a sunset over Chincoteague Bay, enjoy a nearby beach, or dig your own clams and inspect your own oysters on an interactive shellfish tour.—
Laura Kiniry,
Smithsonian Magazine,
9 June 2025
Noun
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With selfie-takers increasingly seen as a risk, some art insurers are advocating for stricter protective measures, such as banning selfie sticks and reinforcing barriers around select artworks.—
Aurora Martínez,
Smithsonian Magazine,
27 June 2025
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Its data shows that a stick of 16GB DDR4 RAM can now reach $24, up from a mere $4.40 back in March.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
27 June 2025
Noun
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Like icebergs, the top portion of an ant hill is just the beginning, and ant hills can extend several feet beneath the soil surface.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 May 2025
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The beach gets its moniker from the icebergs that wash up on the black volcanic sand beach.—
Mariette Williams,
AFAR Media,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cold fish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold%20fish. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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