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Cold Comfort

What Does "Cold Comfort" Mean?

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"Cold comfort" is an English idiom. It means "little or slight consolation."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "cold comfort" used in a sentence:
  • He said it could've been worse, but that's cold comfort.
  • Knowing there were others in the same situation was cold comfort.
  • The small discount after the long wait was cold comfort.
meaning for cold comfort

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Cold Comfort" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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