in the cold light of day
phrase
: in the day when things can be seen clearly rather than at night
The house that had looked so sinister at night seemed much less frightening in the cold light of day.
—sometimes used figurativelyShe forced me to look at myself in the cold light of day, and I didn't like what I saw.
Cite this Entry
“In the cold light of day.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20cold%20light%20of%20day. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
