out cold

Idioms  

1. Also, out for the count; out like a light. Unconscious; also, asleep. For example, He crashed into the wall and was out cold, or Willie punched him too hard, and he was out for the count or Don't call Jane; she's out like a light by ten every night. The adjective cold refers to the lack of heat in a dead body and has been used to mean “unconscious” since the second half of the 1800s. The first variant comes from boxing, where a fighter who is knocked down must get up before the referee counts to ten or be declared defeated; it dates from about 1930. The last variant alludes to turning out a light and dates from the first half of the 1900s.

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Example Sentences

On one outing near Carter’s home in central Illinois, a flying carp knocked his friend out cold.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

The new study shows that dark matter does not necessarily need to start out cold.

From Science Daily • Jan. 15, 2026

Poirier was out cold as referee Herb Dean jumped in to prevent any further damage and Gaethje was soon back-flipping off the top of the octagon.

From BBC • Jul. 30, 2023

Watts was passing out cold drinks, sweatshirts and more at a Brooklyn Homes community event Wednesday afternoon.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 14, 2023

I thought I was going to pass out cold.

From "The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger