blow hot and cold

1. To change one's mind constantly about the value of something: “The administration should stop issuing such contradictory statements on taxes; they are alienating the voters by blowing hot and cold on tax reform.”

Idioms and Phrases

Change one's mind, vacillate, as in Jean's been blowing hot and cold about taking a winter vacation . This expression comes from Aesop's fable (c. 570 b.c. ) about a man eating with a satyr on a winter day. At first the man blew on his hands to warm them and then blew on his soup to cool it. The satyr thereupon renounced the man's friendship because he blew hot and cold out of the same mouth. The expression was repeated by many writers, most often signifying a person who could not be relied on. William Chillingworth put it: “These men can blow hot and cold out of the same mouth to serve several purposes” ( The Religion of Protestants , 1638).

Example Sentences

I blow hot and cold with Bernie Sanders, but he is the only person on the left who knows how to connect with that kind of punch.

From Salon

Even as incoming economic soundings and forecasts blow hot and cold about the growth outlook, crude oil continues to tick up to its highest levels of the year - stalking $100 per barrel for the first time since the summer of 2022.

From Reuters

Even as incoming economic soundings and forecasts blow hot and cold about the growth outlook, crude oil continues to tick up to its highest levels of the year - stalking $100 per barrel for the first time since the summer of 2022.

From Reuters

There are some who rate series not only from season to season but episode to episode, as a sports fan might blow hot and cold on a team from play to play.

From Los Angeles Times

Like a patient with a virus, incoming data appears to blow hot and cold at the same time.

From Reuters