cold comfort

英 [ˌkəʊld ˈkʌmfət]

美 [ˌkoʊld ˈkʌmfərt]

n.  于事无补的安慰; 不起作用的慰藉

牛津词典

noun

• 于事无补的安慰；不起作用的慰藉
  the fact that sth that would normally be good does not make you happy because the whole situation is bad
  1. A small drop in the inflation rate was cold comfort for the millions without a job.
     对数百万失业者来说，通货膨胀率的微降是不起作用的安慰。

柯林斯词典

• N-UNCOUNT 不起作用的安慰
  If you say that a slightly encouraging fact or event iscold comfort tosomeone, you mean that it gives them little or no comfort because their situation is so difficult or unpleasant.
  1. These figures may look good on paper but are cold comfort to the islanders themselves.
     这些数字理论上看来可能不错，不过对岛民们起不到安慰的作用。

英英释义

noun

• very limited consolation or empathy
  1. he told me that time heals all wounds but that was cold comfort to me

双语例句

• That's cold comfort to anyone looking for a job right now.
  这对于目前正在找工作的人来说是无用的安慰。
• A hot cup of tea on a cold night is a real comfort.
  寒冷冬季的夜晚来杯热茶真是一种享受。
• At present, air-conditioning is being widely used for heating in hot summer and cold winter areas. This heating method 'heat transfer form is mainly convection, which is high energy consumption, and is being widely criticized by the users because of its bad comfort.
  目前我国夏热冬冷地区广泛采用空调方式采暖，这种以对流传热为主的采暖方式不仅能耗高，其舒适性也受到用户的广泛批评。
• These figures may look good on paper but are cold comfort to the islanders themselves.
  这些数字理论上看来可能不错，不过对岛民们起不到安慰的作用。
• It is cold comfort to know that others are ill too.
  即使知道人家也在患病，也不成为安慰。
• The loss could have been heavier, but that was cold comfort.
  这次损失不算太重，但那并不值得高兴。
• As the cold winds of winter creep in, people look to their homes for the comfort of warmth.
  冬季寒潮来临，人们都指望宅在温暖舒适的家中度过寒冬。
• For the many Americans anxious about their jobs or their future prospects, the fact that the economy is already recovering from recession is cold comfort ①.
  对于很多为工作或是为前途忧虑的美国人来说，经济已经从萧条中复苏这一事实也难以令人感到宽慰。
• The results show that when combined with ice thermal storage, the cold air distribution can lower the original investments and operation costs of the air conditioning system and reduced relative humidity can improve human body comfort and indoor air quality.
  结果表明，低温送风空调与冰蓄冷技术相结合，可降低整个系统的初投资和运行费；同时室内相对湿度的降低，可以提高人体舒适感，改善室内空气品质。
• A recent Michigan lawsuit may provide some cold comfort to these associates.
  密歇根州最近的一宗法律诉讼或许能让这些律师们感到心有戚戚。