Come in from the cold


verb phrase

[popularized by the John le Carre´ 1963 novel The Spy Who Came In from the Cold]
Also, come in out of the cold . Return to shelter and safety, be welcomed into a group. For example, Bill was fed up with traveling on his own for the company and hoped they’d let him come in from the cold , or After years of not being invited to join, Steve was finally asked to come in out of the cold . This phrase, generally used figuratively, gained currency in the 1960s with John LeCarré’s best-selling spy novel, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold , about a long-time British spy in the cold war who longed to abandon the dirty tricks of his profession. Also see come in out of the rain

Read Also:

  • Come in handy

    Be useful or convenient, as in This check will really come in handy. [ Mid-1800s ] Also see: come in, def. 4.

  • Comeliness

    [kuhm-lee] /ˈkʌm li/ adjective, comelier, comeliest. 1. pleasing in appearance; attractive; fair: a comely face. 2. proper; seemly; becoming: comely behavior. /ˈkʌmlɪ/ adjective -lier, -liest 1. good-looking; attractive adj. “beautiful, handsome,” c.1400, probably from Old English cymlic “lovely, splendid, finely made,” from cyme “exquisite, glorious, delicate,” from West Germanic *kumi- “delicate, feeble” (cf. Old High […]

  • Come-lately

    Related Terms johnny-come-lately

  • Come live with me and be my love

    The opening line of “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love,” a poem by Christopher Marlowe.

  • Comely

    [kuhm-lee] /ˈkʌm li/ adjective, comelier, comeliest. 1. pleasing in appearance; attractive; fair: a comely face. 2. proper; seemly; becoming: comely behavior. /ˈkʌmlɪ/ adjective -lier, -liest 1. good-looking; attractive adj. “beautiful, handsome,” c.1400, probably from Old English cymlic “lovely, splendid, finely made,” from cyme “exquisite, glorious, delicate,” from West Germanic *kumi- “delicate, feeble” (cf. Old High […]


Disclaimer: Come in from the cold definition / meaning should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. All content on this website is for informational purposes only.