Job's comforter

English

Etymology

From the Bible Job 16.2 where Job's supposed friends offered advice that was not helpful.

Noun

Job's comforter (plural Job's comforters)

  1. A person who, in trying to offer help or advice, says something that aggravates the distress.
    Only a Job's comforter would try to argue that yesterday's stock fall announcement could bring anything good.
    • 1924, Agatha Christie, The Man in the Brown Suit:
      Pagett is a famous Job's comforter. He displays a certain gloomy satisfaction that maddens me.
  2. (obsolete, slang) A boil.

Translations

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