Blow Hot and Cold: The Fine Art of Indecision 🌬️
Ever know someone who can’t make up their mind about anything? One moment they’re all in, the next, they’re out, and tomorrow, they’re back to square one. Welcome to the world of those who “blow hot and cold.”
This classic cliché comes from Aesop’s fable about a satyr and a traveler. The traveler was busy showing off his cold-weather survival skills by blowing on his hands to warm them and then, with the same breath, on his soup to cool it. Quite impressive, huh? Not so to the satyr, who thought the traveler was as fickle as the weather and promptly kicked him out.
The term evolved over centuries to symbolize hypocrisy and indecision. In 1638, William Chillingworth used it to highlight the zigzag nature of the Protestant religion: “These men can blow hot and cold out of the same mouth to serve severall purposes.” By 1765, you could even read about its cunning application to describe “a woman” (“It is said of old, soon hot, soon cold…”) in Thomas Percy’s Reliques of Ancient English Poetry.
Related Terms and Synonyms:
- Double-dealing
- Two-facedness
- Flip-flopping
- Ambivalence
- Back and forth
Proverbs & Expressions:
- “One foot in and one foot out.”
- “Sitting on the fence.”
- “Having it both ways.”
Synonyms:
- Indecisive
- Fickle
- Wavering
- Uncertain
Antonyms:
- Resolute
- Firm
- Steadfast
- Decisive
Humor-Filled Quotes:
“I can resist everything except temptation.” — Oscar Wilde
“I’m not indecisive. Unless you want to meet tomorrow… and next Thursday?”
Proverbs:
- “A rolling stone gathers no moss.”
Literature to Delight:
- “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare (Talk about being indecisive!)
- “Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity” by David Lynch
Songs:
- “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash
- “Torn” by Natalie Imbruglia
Movies:
- “Runaway Bride” (1999) starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere
- “The Every-Other-Thursday Man” (2021) - just kidding, I made that one up!
Poetry:
- “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost
Quizzes:
Inspirational Farewell:
May you navigate the maze of decisions with the wisdom of a Zen master and the confidence of a leader. Pick your path and walk it with pride. Until next time, may your choices be clear and your dreams steadfast and unwavering!
E. L. Elusive, signing off ✨
