in cold blood

1. In a purposely ruthless and unfeeling manner, as in The whole family was murdered in cold blood. This expression alludes to the notion that blood is the seat of emotion and is hot in passion and cold in calm. The term therefore means not “in the heat of passion,” but “in a calculated, deliberate manner.” [Late 1500s]

Example Sentences

Some were "murdered in cold blood," he said.

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"I walked behind my colleague, 30m apart. After the mines went off, the wounded were screaming. They killed them in cold blood. I could hear two voices, and I could not help."

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"Children, women and the elderly were killed in cold blood, and many were completely burned," a statement from the group said.

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"Children, women and the elderly were killed in cold blood, and many were completely burned," it said.

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Porepunkah is now the centre of a massive manhunt for a heavily-armed man that police allege murdered two of their own in cold blood.

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