blow hot and cold
expression · Collocation / phrase B2
Plain meaning
to keep changing your attitude or enthusiasm
Exam-register meaning
In exam reading or discussion, this expression signals to keep changing your attitude or enthusiasm rather than a literal meaning.
In context
naturalThe phrase “blow hot and cold” fitted the situation perfectly.
examIn higher-level reading passages, “blow hot and cold” may be used to show to keep changing your attitude or enthusiasm.
Common collocations
blow hot and colduse “blow hot and cold” in contextthe expression “blow hot and cold”
Watch out
Do not translate “blow hot and cold” word-for-word; learn it as a fixed expression and check whether it is suitable for formal writing.