in the cold light of day

Idioms  

1. Dispassionately, unemotionally, especially at a later time. For example, They had a terrible fight about the mix-up, but in the cold light of day they realized they were both at fault. This expression transfers the illumination of daylight to rational understanding and uses cold to emphasize the lack of passion.

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Example Sentences

Because if you actually look at it in the cold light of day, what is there in Itauma's 13 wins that could lead anybody to think that as of today, he could fight any of the top guys?

From BBC

Howe felt in the "cold light of day" his side would see such positives after they showed they can compete with the very best.

From BBC

"In the cold light of day England were taken apart from minute one to minute 80. Scotland were miles better."

From BBC

In the cold light of day, it can be argued England beat the teams they should have beaten anyway.

From BBC

“I would be fairly confident that most of those young people, in the cold light of day, in sobriety watching those videos will be mortified.”

From BBC