out in the cold
out in the cold
Ignored, forgotten, or excluded, as from a group, activity, benefit, etc. You have to make sure you stand out in a company, or you might be left in the cold when it comes time to hand out promotions. Our constituency feels it has really been kept out in the cold during the debate around this topic. I felt a bit out in the cold at Janet's party last night.
See also: cold, out
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
*out in the cold
1. Lit. outdoors where it is cold. (*Typically: be ~; keep someone or some creature ~; leave someone or some creature ~; put someone or some creature ~.) Open the door! Let me in! Don't keep me out in the cold! Who left the dog out in the cold all night?
2. Fig. not informed about what is happening or has happened. (*Typically: be ~; keep someone ~; leave someone ~.) Don't keep your supervisor out in the cold. Tell her what's going on. Please don't leave me out in the cold. Share the news with me!
3. Fig. excluded. (*Typically: be ~; keep someone ~; leave someone ~.) There was a party last night, but my friends left me out in the cold. When it came to the final prizes in the dog show, they left our animals out in the cold.
See also: cold, out
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
out in the cold
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.
See also: cold, out
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
out in the cold
Lacking benefits given to others; neglected.
See also: cold, out
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- be left (out) in the cold
- left out in the cold
- odd man out
- the odd man/one out
- (the) odd man out
- (the) odd one out
- odd one out
- in one ear and out the other
- drop off the radar
- fall off the radar