English Explanatory Dictionary

in the cold light of day

English dictionary entry

Meanings

prep_phrase
  1. Viewed calmly and dispassionately after allowing emotions to cool or after having sobered up.
  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see in, the, cold, light, of, day; during the day; in daylight.

Pronunciation

ĭn′ thə kōld′ līt′ əv dā′ /ˌɪn ðə ˈkəʊ̯ld ˌlaɪ̯t əv ˈdeɪ̯/ /ˌɪn ðə ˈkoʊ̯ld ˌlaɪ̯t əv ˈdeɪ̯/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-in the cold light of day.wav /-ˌlʌɪ̯t-/ /ˌɪn ðə ˈkəʉ̯ld ˌlɑe̯t əv ˈdæɪ̯/ /ˌən ðə ˈkɐʉ̯ld ˌlaɪ̯t əv ˈdæɪ̯/ /ˌɪn ðə ˈkold ˌlaɪ̯t əv ˈde/ /-ˌlʌi̯t-/ /-ˌləi̯t-/ /ˌɪn d̪e ˈkoːlɖ ˌlajʈ ov ˈɖeː/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-in the cold light of day.wav

Word forms

in the cold light of day

Etymology

Probably an allusion to a situation being seen more clearly in daylight, and after some time has passed. The word cold is used in the sense of “dispassionate; not prejudiced or partisan; impartial”.

Antonyms

in the heat of the moment

Related words

morning after at the end of the day
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