Meanings
Literally, the term refers to someone who is outdoors when the weather is cold coming indoors to a warm place. The idiomatic senses were popularized by the title of the novel The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1963)[1] by the British author John le Carré (1931–2020); “the Cold” is a pun on the Cold War, during which the novel is set.[2][3]
How to pronounce "come in from the cold":
AU
Of a spy: to return home after having gone undercover in enemy territory.
To gain widespread acceptance in a group or society, especially where there was not any before.
Example: "Long an outsider in Western politics, Portugal came in from the cold after the 1974 Carnation Revolution."
Example Sentences
1
After working as an undercover agent for years, he decided to come in from the cold and retire.
2
She felt relieved when she was finally able to come in from the cold and find a stable job.
3
The company offered a generous severance package to employees who agreed to come in from the cold and leave voluntarily.
4
The political dissident had to come in from the cold and seek asylum in a foreign country.
5
It took a lot of courage for her to come in from the cold and admit her mistake.
