Cold comfort
noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Much less reassurance, consolation, aid, or pleasure than one needs or desires. countable, idiomatic, uncountable
"[…] or ſhall I complaine on thee to our miſtris, whoſe hand / (ſhe being now at hand) thou ſhalt ſoone feele, to thy / cold comfort, for being ſlow in thy hot office."
- 2 very limited consolation or empathy wordnet
Example
More examples"[…] or ſhall I complaine on thee to our miſtris, whoſe hand / (ſhe being now at hand) thou ſhalt ſoone feele, to thy / cold comfort, for being ſlow in thy hot office."
Etymology
Popularized by William Shakespeare in The Taming of the Shrew, see quotations.