- Describes a person who seems unemotional, aloof, unfriendly, and lacking in warmth or empathy.
- They often appear detached or unresponsive in social situations.
Explanation
Origin
- The metaphor compares the person to a fish, which is literally cold-blooded and often perceived culturally as lacking emotion or expression.
- The term has been used to describe unemotional people since at least the early 20th century, possibly earlier.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Standoffish (Common, implies deliberately keeping distance)
- Buttoned-up / Buttoned-down (Implies overly formal, stiff, and reserved)
- Ice queen / Ice man/king (More intense, implies deliberate coldness, perhaps haughtiness)
- Poker face (Specifically refers to showing no emotion facially, not necessarily overall personality)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Emotionless bastard/bitch (Harsh, vulgar insult)
- Stone-cold (Emphasizes lack of emotion)
Milder/More Formal:
- Reserved
- Aloof
- Detached
- Unemotional
- Unresponsive
- Formal
- Distant
- Difficult to get to know
- Lacking warmth
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal to semi-formal. It's a negative judgment of someone's personality and lack of warmth.
- Avoid using it where politeness and diplomacy are crucial, or directly to the person.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- The negative connotation is usually clear. It implies a lack of warmth and emotional connection, not just being quiet or introverted (though the behaviors can overlap).
Examples
- I tried making jokes, but he just stared back blankly. He's a bit of a cold fish.
- She never seems happy or sad, just maintains the same neutral expression – a real cold fish.
- It's hard to get to know him; he comes across as a cold fish.
Dialogue
Ben: How was the meeting with the new client?
Chloe: It was okay, very professional. But the main contact, Mr. Harrison... seemed like a bit of a cold fish.
Ben: Oh? How so?
Chloe: Just very formal, no small talk, barely cracked a smile. All business.
Social Media Examples
- Forum post: My boss is kind of a cold fish. It's hard to know if I'm doing a good job because they show zero emotion. Any advice?
- Comment: Tried chatting with my neighbor, total cold fish. Oh well.
- Tweet: Is it just me, or does that celebrity always seem like a cold fish in interviews?
Response Patterns
- Agreement: Yeah, I've noticed that too., He's hard to read., She keeps people at arm's length.
- Sharing similar experiences: I found her quite distant as well.
- Speculation (sometimes): Maybe they're just shy?, I wonder why they're like that.
- Mild disagreement: Really? I found him okay, just quiet.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After calling someone a cold fish:
- People might discuss specific instances of the person's lack of emotional display or warmth.
- Listeners might ask for clarification: What makes you say that?
- People may decide to keep their distance or limit interaction due to the perceived unfriendliness.
Conversation Starter
- No. It's a description of someone's personality, usually based on observation.
Intonation
- Often said with a neutral, slightly critical, disappointed, or perplexed tone.
- Stress usually falls on cold and fish.
- a COLD FISH.
Generation Differences
- Understood across generations, perhaps slightly more common in the vocabulary of older generations but still widely recognized.
Regional Variations
- Common in most English-speaking regions (US, UK, Aus, etc.).