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

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

Although Broad survived until day three, in the cold light of day, the Nighthawk's wings were clipped.

From BBC

So while principles exist that would allow the Queen to refuse an early election request, they've never been tested in the cold light of day, according to Catherine Haddon from the Institute for Government think tank.

From BBC

So while principles exist that would allow the Queen to refuse an early election request, they've never been tested in the cold light of day, says Catherine Haddon from the Institute for Government think tank.

From BBC