cold comfort
noun phrase

- extremely limited empathy, sympathy, or encouragement

The American Heritage Dictionary

- When being told a particular thing about a bad situation is cold comfort, it does not make you feel better although it is intended to.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

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WORD ORIGIN

As the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary points out, when being told that a particular thing regarding a bad situation is cold comfort, it does not make you feel better although it is intended to.

Cold comfort is inadequate consolation for a misfortune. The phrase dates back to the 14th century and can be found in such works as Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew.

A similar phrase is "cold comfort farm," which describes a residence that is untidy and comfortless. The expression is from a 1932 novel of the same name written by Stella Gibbons, then a reporter for the London Evening Standard newspaper. The book is a parody of early 20th century English countryside novels that painted romantic, but often unrealistic pictures of rural English life.

Comfort is not the only thing that can be "cold" in English:

- getting cold feet (a state of fear that prevents the completion of an action)

- a cold fish (an unemotional, impassive person)

- giving someone the cold shoulder (intentionally ignoring someone)

- a cold call (an unplanned visit or telephone call by a salesperson to a potential customer)

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Practice OWAD in a conversation:

"Jim's end of year bonus is COLD COMFORT compared to his rising rent prices."