cold coffee
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Misfortune; an unpleasant experience.
Register: dated, slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
misfortune; sometimes varied to COLD GRUEL. An unpleasant return for a proffered kindness is sometimes called COLD COFFEE.—Sea.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “cold coffee” mean?
Misfortune; an unpleasant experience.
Is “cold coffee” formal or informal?
cold coffee is generally dated, slang.