Blow hot and cold

Meaning

Switch between enthusiasm and disinterest.

Usage

Describes inconsistent people or reactions.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

From Aesop's fable of a man who blows on his hands to warm them and on his soup to cool it, and is accused of changing his mind about the same breath.

In English since the 1500s.