Cold comfort

Meaning

The idiom "cold comfort" refers to comfort that is not warm or satisfying, often meaning that the comfort provided does not adequately address the issue at hand. It can also refer to a promise or assurance that is not trustworthy or reliable.

Usage

• After hearing his friend's words of comfort, he felt cold comfort knowing that she didn't understand his situation.
• The company promised cold comfort when it came to job security, so many employees left before the deadline.
• When faced with a difficult decision, her colleague gave her cold comfort by saying that there was no right or wrong answer.
• The bereaved family found cold comfort in the fact that their loved one's killer had been caught and brought to justice.
• The weather forecast for tomorrow was cold comfort for those who were planning a picnic.

Roots and History

The earliest known use of "cold comfort" dates back to 1623, when it appeared in John Heywood's book "A Dialogue Conteinyng the Nomber in Effect of All the Proverbes in the Englishe Tongue." The idiom comes from an older phrase, "as cold as a frozen well," which means something that is unhelpful or irrelevant. Over time, the phrase evolved to include promises and assurances that are not trustworthy or reliable.

Synonyms in English

• Empty words
• False comfort
• Phony comfort
• Superficial comfort
• Dishonest comfort

Synonyms in other languages

• Empty words (French, German)
• False comfort (German, Dutch)
• Phony comfort (French, Italian)
• Superficial comfort (Spanish, Portuguese)
• Dishonest comfort (Italian, Greek)

Similar Idioms

• cloud nine

• come full circle

• chew the fat