in the cold light of day

== English == === 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”. === Pronunciation === enPR: ĭn′ thə kōld′ līt′ əv dā′ (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌɪn ðə ˈkəʊ̯ld ˌlaɪ̯t əv ˈdeɪ̯/ (General American, Canada) IPA(key): /ˌɪn ðə ˈkoʊ̯ld ˌlaɪ̯t əv ˈdeɪ̯/ (Canada) IPA(key): /-ˌlʌɪ̯t-/ (General Australian) IPA(key): /ˌɪn ðə ˈkəʉ̯ld ˌlɑe̯t əv ˈdæɪ̯/ (New Zealand) IPA(key): /ˌən ðə ˈkɐʉ̯ld ˌlaɪ̯t əv ˈdæɪ̯/ (Scotland) IPA(key): /ˌɪn ðə ˈkold ˌlaɪ̯t əv ˈde/, /-ˌlʌi̯t-/, /-ˌləi̯t-/ (India) IPA(key): /ˌɪn d̪e ˈkoːlɖ ˌlajʈ ov ˈɖeː/ Hyphenation: in the cold light of day === Prepositional phrase === in the cold light of day (figurative) Viewed calmly and dispassionately after allowing emotions to cool or after having sobered up. Antonym: in the heat of the moment In the cold light of day, I felt I had overreacted. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see in,‎ the,‎ cold,‎ light,‎ of,‎ day; during the day; in daylight. ==== Translations ==== === See also === morning after at the end of the day === References === === Further reading === “in the cold light of day”, in Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1999–present. “in the cold light of day” (US) / “in the cold light of day” (UK) in Macmillan English Dictionary. “in the cold light of day”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present. “in the cold light of day” in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Longman.