Phrase guide

leave someone out in the cold

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈliːv ˌsʌmwʌn aʊt ɪn ðə ˈkɔʊld/
  • General-American: /ˈliv ˌsʌmwʌn aʊt ən ðə ˈkoʊld/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To deliberately fail to provide someone with support; to ignore or neglect.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

A reference to someone being left outdoors in cold, wintry weather instead of being invited indoors where it is warm and comfortable.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: jättää heitteille — to deliberately fail to provide someone with support — see also ignore, neglect