out cold

Idioms and Phrases

Also, out for the count ; out like a light . Unconscious; also, asleep. For example, He crashed into the wall and was out cold , or Willie punched him too hard, and he was out for the count or Don't call Jane; she's out like a light by ten every night . The adjective cold refers to the lack of heat in a dead body and has been used to mean “unconscious” since the second half of the 1800s. The first variant comes from boxing, where a fighter who is knocked down must get up before the referee counts to ten or be declared defeated; it dates from about 1930. The last variant alludes to turning out a light and dates from the first half of the 1900s.

Example Sentences

While you might think you were out cold, the data might show otherwise.

From The Daily Beast

She knocks him out cold and in the blink of an eye, almost the entire NYPD is at her rescue.

From The Daily Beast

Barry opted for what he calls the “Full Coward Package”—aka, he was knocked out cold.

From The Daily Beast

Likes putting the freeze on them (the green room is frigid and spare) so you walk out cold and he always has the advantage.

From The Daily Beast

I passed out cold, the drum of the touring's motor sounding in my ears.

From Project Gutenberg

Such a poncho would cost 20l., and would not only keep out cold, but would turn rain like a “macintosh.”

From Project Gutenberg

Its white summit stood out cold and bare against a bright blue cloudless sky, and the lake was of a deep, dazzling ultramarine.

From Project Gutenberg

Have we been out cold this long, or did we come to and walk back to here?

From Project Gutenberg

He went off to his hotel-room and was out cold before his head had drifted down to its pillow.

From Project Gutenberg