English Reference
Idiom idiom

creature comfort


Any small item or detail that makes a person feel comfortable and at home.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

A warm blanket is my favorite creature comfort on a cold day.

CONTEXTUAL

When camping in the mountains, she missed the simple creature comforts of her own home, like a hot shower and a soft bed.

The hotel room was small, but it provided every creature comfort I needed, including a high-quality coffee machine and a very plush bathrobe.

COMPLEX

Even in the harsh conditions of the remote research station, the scientists insisted on maintaining a few basic creature comforts to preserve their morale during the long winter.


A compound of creature and comfort, recorded from the 17th century to describe the basic physical requirements shared by humans and animals. The construction rests on the archaic sense of creature as any living being, designating those requirements—such as food, warmth, and sleep—that satisfy the body rather than the soul. The phrase appears in the 1650s in the works of various English divines, who frequently contrasted these worldly animal necessities with more elevated spiritual concerns.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    cold comfort

    Much less reassurance, consolation, aid, or pleasure than one needs or desires.

  2. 02

    comfort girl

    A female sex slave; prostitute.

  3. 03

    comfort woman

    A woman forced, or supposedly recruited, into brothels by the Japanese occupation forces before or during World War II.

  4. 04

    comfort zone

    The range of circumstances in which a person feels relaxed or able to cope.

  5. 05

    creature feature

    A horror film in which one or more monsters plays a prominent role.

  6. 06

    creature of habit

    One who is prone to routine.

  7. 07

    creature of statute

    A body created by legislation, especially a public body.

  8. 08

    creature of the night

    A prostitute.

Last updated August 10, 2026