Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

out in the cold

Idioms  
  1. Excluded from benefits given to others, neglected, as in Her stand on abortion left her out in the cold with the party. This idiom alludes to being left outdoors without shelter. [Mid-1800s] Also see come in from the cold.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Others may find themselves out in the cold.

From BBC Jun. 22, 2026

That leaves people like you and your husband out in the cold, waiting in a long line you never signed up for.

From MarketWatch May 1, 2026

That’s spreading budgets thin, discouraging potentially more effective long-term partnerships and leaving many out in the cold, creators say.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 27, 2026

The One Big Beautiful Bill could provide the biggest boost to retail stocks since then, even if it leaves the wall flowers and baking enthusiasts out in the cold.

From Barron's Dec. 23, 2025

My new friend Fluffy and I stayed out in the cold well after Stephanie and Erin went back into the house.

From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training