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cold fish

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

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English

Etymology

Coined by William Shakespeare in 1611, see quotations.

Pronunciation

Noun

cold fish (plural cold fish or cold fishes)

  1. (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[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv], 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.
  2. (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

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