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.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

out in the cold

The paper says the key message of his letter is that the couple are "still out in the cold".

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

If both spouses have children from previous marriages, they both have an incentive to ensure that those children are not left out in the cold if their parents die first.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 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

“Years of narrow, large cap leadership have forced active investors into mega caps, leaving the average stock out in the cold — it’s 20% underweight, and owned by a paltry 10% of funds on average.”

From Barron's ● Feb. 10, 2026

He was old enough to stand out in the cold and run his fingers over Sounder’s head.

From "Sounder" by William H. Armstrong