cold fish

Etymology

Coined by William Shakespeare in 1611, see quotations.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

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!